Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2012

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Ceisteanna (78)

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

74 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the cost of lump sums, severance payments and pensions of those leaving the public service through retirement or other grounds; the loss of pension levy and superannuation from employees leaving the public service; the numbers of persons who were paid under Vote 12 superannuation and retired allowances in 2011 and his estimate of same for 2012; if he will provide this information in respect of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10423/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

Twenty people left the Department of Finance during 2011. The cost of lumps sums in respect of those retirees was €2.2m and of severance payments was €127k. The annual pension cost for these people is of the order of €0.725m. The pension related deduction which was paid by these staff while in employment was approximately €99k per annum and their pension contribution was approximately €22k per annum. Many of these staff may have retired in the normal course of events regardless of the changed arrangements with respect to pay and pensions.

A further nine staff have indicated their intention to retire from my Department this year at an estimated lump sum cost of €660k and an annual pension cost of €205k . The pension related deduction paid by these staff is €40k per annum and their annual pension contributions total €8k per annum. Again, many of these staff may have retired in the normal course of events.

The information requested in respect of Vote 12 is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 69.