I propose to take Questions Nos. 594, 595 and 616 together.
There is no early retirement scheme in operation for Civil Servants whereby retirees are approved for added years or enhanced pensions on retirement prior to the date of their preserved pension age, nor has there been such a scheme in the past five years. In certain circumstances the Chief Medical Officer may approve early retirement on ill health grounds, in which case the terms of the superannuation scheme for the officer in question will be applied.
Under the terms of the Department of Finance Circular 10/2005, Public Service Pension Reform: Introduction of cost neutral early retirement, public servants have the option to retire up to ten years before preserved pension age, with immediate payment of superannuation benefits, subject to actuarial reduction to take account of the early payment of the lump sum and the linger period over which the pension would be paid. There is no additional cost to the state for the operation of this scheme.