Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
184. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the exact number of public servants who are back in employment in the public service, who are on pensions and have accepted lump sums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49086/12]
View answerI understand that the Deputy’s question relates to certain retirements on or before 29 February 2012 – the end of the so-called grace period – where superannuation benefits were calculated on the basis of pre-1 January 2010 salary scales. One officer who retired under this arrangement has been temporarily re-engaged in order to assist with the Department’s activities in the lead-up to and during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU from January to June 2013. The officer was re-engaged on a pension abatement basis, meaning that he continues to receive his pension and is paid a correspondingly reduced salary by the Department. This temporary recruitment arrangement is in line with a Government decision of 16 December 2011 relating to Presidency matters, including staffing arrangements. The policy of my Department regarding the re-hiring of retired officials is to do so to the minimum extent possible. However, for certain once-off or short-duration projects, it is more productive and cost-effective to re-hire retired staff who already have the relevant expertise and experience than to go through a time-consuming and relatively expensive recruitment, induction and training process. There are no State agencies, offices or bodies under the aegis of my Department.
