I propose to take Questions Nos. 277, 278 and 292 together.
In the period referred to by the Deputies a voluntary early retirement scheme has not been available to staff in the Civil Service. However, there are other arrangements which make provision for retirement earlier than normal pension age in certain circumstances.
Arrangements for cost-neutral early retirement were introduced in 2005 under Department of Finance Circular 10/2005 and are available in the Civil and Public Service generally. In broad terms this facility, which was recommended by the Commission on Public Service Pensions, allows staff who are within ten years of their normal pension age to apply for early retirement with immediate payment of their superannuation benefits. The benefits are actuarially reduced to ensure that the early payment is cost-neutral to the Exchequer.
In addition retirement before normal pension age with immediate payment of superannuation benefits may be permitted on medical grounds. For the Deputies information I am including the following table which details the number of staff who retired from the Department in the last five years.
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008 to date
|
Retirements on the basis of cost-neutral early retirement
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
Retirements under normal arrangements including ill health retirement
|
9
|
5
|
11
|
7
|
5
|
TOTAL
|
9
|
6
|
11
|
9
|
5
|