Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012
381 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of retired public servants who have been re-hired in her Department during the period of April 2011 to April 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25236/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraEight retired former public servants were recruited on short term contracts in the Department of Social Protection from June 2010. These officers were employed on a part time basis as Appeals Officers, and their contracts terminated at the end of December 2011. One of the Department's Medical Assessors was retained on a temporary contract beyond retirement which ended on the 20 January 2012. Between October 2011 and end of February 2012 some 300 staff retired from the Department. The Department's Chief Medical Advisor was the only official of this number who was retained beyond his retirement date of 29th February 2012 and is currently employed on a temporary contract basis.
The decision to re-employ or retain this small number of staff was taken due to their specific skills and experience, the difficulty and long lead-in time for replacing such skills, and the critical importance of ensuring continuity and a high level of service to customers of the Department. In all cases, the combined pension and rate of pay did not exceed the salary level of the individual.
