Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
303. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired civil and public servants who have been rehired on temporary contracts or as consultants under his remit; if he will provide a breakdown of those figures in tabular form, providing associated costs of such rehiring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30554/14]
View answerMy Department collates information in relation to individuals who retired from the Civil Service and are re-engaged to undertake specific tasks. It also collates information in relation to retired teachers who are re-engaged by schools. It does not collate information in relation to individuals engaged who retired from positions in the wider public service.
My Department engages the services of retired civil servants from time to time to perform various defined tasks that require their particular expertise and experience. Payments made to retired civil servants in respect of such work are determined in accordance with the abatement principle whereby total earnings in any year, inclusive of pension, cannot exceed the retirement salary of the retired individual. The number of civil servants re-engaged during the years 2011 to 2013 inclusive are outlined in the following table. As data in relation to the re-engagement of retired civil servants is compiled retrospectively at the commencement of each new year, details in relation to 2014 will not be available until early 2015.
With regard to retired teachers, the most recent information available relates to March 2014 when a total of 282 retired teachers were employed by the managerial authorities of schools. One hundred and forty nine retired primary teachers and one hundred and thirty three retired voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive teachers were employed. However, seventy per cent of those teachers worked 5 days or less.
By comparison, in March 2013 a total of 362 retired teachers were employed by the managerial authorities. Two hundred and eight retired primary teachers and one hundred and fifty four retired voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive teachers were employed. In that period eighty five per cent worked 5 days or less.
A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 in a non casual basis will commence at the first point of the incremental salary scale. Details of the scale are outlined for primary teachers in circular 32/2013 and for post primary teachers in circular 5/2014. Retired teachers employed in a casual basis are paid at the casual qualified rates as outlined in these circulars.
|
Year |
No. of Retired Civil Servants re-hired |
Total Cost |
|
2011 |
18 |
€91,672.92 |
|
2012 |
24 |
€113,910.41 |
|
2013 |
31 |
€110,964.74 |
