Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:44 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence his approach to the voluntary early retirement scheme for 1997-1998. [15174/97]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Retirement Scheme.
As part of the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan, a voluntary early retirement scheme was introduced for certain categories of personnel serving in the Permanent Defence Force. The main purpose of the scheme was to address the age profile problem and to reduce the number of medical category ‘C' personnel.
In 1996, 500 personnel were granted VER and this year a total of 735 personnel have been granted VER.
The extent and the details of a voluntary early retirement scheme for 1998 are at present under review.