I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 59 together. The early retirement-voluntary redundancy scheme is one which applies to the public sector as a whole. The terms of the scheme preclude its application to members of the public service in any sector on career breaks or unpaid leave of absence, with the exception of those on unpaid sick or maternity leave. This provision applies to members of the teaching profession in the same way that it applies to all other public servants.
The voluntary redundancy-early retirement scheme is in keeping with the Government's commitment to reduce public service numbers and will apply only to the extent that the number of excess teaching posts in the 1988-89 school-year cannot be eliminated by other means, such as natural wastage, redeployment and career breaks.
Accordingly, this scheme is open only to serving permanent teachers.