Vol. 574 No. 2
204 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to implement a limited early retirement scheme for teachers between the age of 55 and 60 with 35 years service to give an entitlement, in view of the fact that such a scheme was included as part of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work; and if he has plans to renege on the undertaking. [26629/03]
Teachers in first and second level schools already have access to early retirement between age 55 and 60 where they fulfil the 35 years' service threshold.
The Deputy may be aware that the age at which public servants, including teachers, should retire and the early retirement provisions available to certain categories of public servants, including teachers, were among the matters which were considered by the Commission on Public Service Pensions. The Government accepted the report of the commission, in principle, in September 2001 and also decided to establish a joint working group with the public services committee of ICTU to examine and report on the implementation of the commission's recommendations. The working group has completed its work and has recently reported. The recommendations of the pensions commission and the report of the working group are being considered by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, who has overall responsibility for public service pensions policy. Pending the outcome of those considerations, there will be no change in the age limits for retirement nor in the early retirement provisions applicable to certain categories of public servants.
