Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 October 2013
176. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reduction in staff numbers that will be achieved in 2013 and 2014 from targeted redundancy and early retirement in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43028/13]
View answer22 staff will have retired from my Department in 2013 without reaching the maximum retirement age. It is estimated that approximately 70 staff will retire in similar circumstances in 2014. The Government has approved the principle of a targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for my Department, should this be required in the progression of the Department’s major re-organisation and re-structuring programme which commenced in 2005. This has been the subject of discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform during the course of the last year. To-date, the Scheme has not been rolled out for 2013 and it is unlikely that it will impact on numbers in 2014. Our Reform Programme has yielded viable re-deployment opportunities for a significant number of staff who have transferred to other Government Departments/Offices in the last number of years. This process is continuing and will take precedence over any Voluntary Redundancy Scheme.
