Vol. 485 No. 2
361 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the scheme of retirement under which a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny retired; if strand 3 of the early retirement scheme should have been applied in this case in view of the fact that it seems to meet the requirements of strand 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22886/97]
The person referred to by the Deputy applied for early retirement under strand 3 of the early retirement scheme for teachers which was notified to schools in June 1997. The scheme specifies that strand 3 may be availed of by teachers in posts which are surplus to requirements, from which they may not be redeployed readily and which will not be filled should they leave the posts. Following an examination of the application it was concluded that the teacher was not eligible for early retirement under strand 3 as the vocational education committee by which he was employed indicated that a replacement teacher would be required in the event of his retirement.
The teacher than applied for early retirement under strand 2 of the scheme. Early retirement under this strand is available to teachers who are 55 years of age or more, have a minimum of 20 years pensionable service and whose school managerial authorities verify that the teacher's retirement will provide an opportunity to enhance the education service provided by the school by facilitating change such as the introduction of new skills and curriculum review.
The teacher's application under strand 2 was accepted. The teacher retired on this basis on 30 November 1997.
