Departmental Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2009

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Ceisteanna (689, 690)

Damien English

Ceist:

783 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the cost to his Department and each agency under the aegis of his Department for early retirements, termination of contracts and resignations for 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 in tabular readable form. [33945/09]

Damien English

Ceist:

784 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of persons in his Department and each agency under the aegis of his Department who took early retirement, had their contract terminated or resigned in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 in tabular readable form. [33960/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 784 together.

There were no persons who took early retirement, had their contract terminated or resigned in the Department in the years in question.

The information as requested by the Deputy in respect of the agencies under the aegis of the Department where early retirements, termination of contracts and resignations occurred is set out in the following tables.

Details for Tourism Ireland Ltd have not been included since they are a North / South body whose terms and conditions of employment are subject to agreement by the North South Ministerial Council.

Organisation: National Gallery of Ireland

	Early Retirement	Termination of Contracts	Resignations
	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost
		€		€		€
2006	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
2007	nil	nil	nil	nil	1	**10,000
2008	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
2009 (to date)	nil	nil	1	*20,000	nil	nil
Total	nil	nil	1	20,000	1	10,000

*The above cost represents a settlement in the context of an EAT appeal against a dismissal. Additional costs in this case covering legal and stenographer fees amounted to €25,000 approx. The year reflects that year where the payments were incurred.

**This was an ex-gratia payment made, with the approval of the Department of Finance, to a staff member who was on a rolling contract which was not renewed.

Organisation: National Concert Hall

	Early Retirement	Termination of Contracts	Resignations
	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost
		€		€		€
2006	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
2007	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
2008	nil	nil	1	11,604	nil	nil
2009 (to date)	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
Total	nil	nil	1	11,604	nil	nil

This was a net redundancy payment.

Organisation: National Sports Campus Development Authority

	Early Retirement	Termination of Contracts	Resignations
	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost
		€		€		€
2006	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
2007	nil	nil	nil	nil	1	nil
2008	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
2009 (to date)	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
Total	nil	nil	nil	nil	1	nil

Organisation: Fáilte Ireland

	Early Retirement ( VER/VR)	Termination of Contracts	Resignations
	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost	No. Staff	Cost
		€m		€		€
2006	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
2007	20	1.560	nil	nil	nil	nil
2008	4	0.525	nil	nil	nil	nil
2009 (to date)	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil	nil
Total	24	2.085	nil	nil	nil	nil

The Department, with the sanction of the Department of Finance, authorised a targeted voluntary early retirement scheme in Fáilte Ireland in July 2007. The scheme provided for 24 departures from the organisation. It also provided for the creation of 8 new posts. The initial up-front cost of the scheme was estimated at €2.5m but with the reduction in numbers the scheme will be cost neutral over the period 2007 to 2012.

Question No. 785 answered with Question No. 774.