Departmental Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2012

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Ceisteanna (373, 374)

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

451 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will set out in tabular form the number of staff who retired from the justice sector in each year since 2009; the total gratuity payments made to retiring staff in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30856/12]

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

452 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff who retired from his Department in each year since 2009 and the total gratuity payments made to retiring staff in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30885/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.

The number of staff who retired from my Department and from agencies under the auspices of my Department in each year since 1 January 2009 up to 26th June 2012 is set out in Table 1. For the most part the cost of lump sum gratuity payments in respect of staff who retire from my Department and from agencies in the Justice Sector are paid from the Superannuation and Allowances Vote of the Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Vote 12). However, the most significant exception to this is in relation to lump sum gratuities to members of An Garda Síochána which are paid from the Garda Vote. Details of the number of retirements and the cost of lump sum gratuity payments in respect of members of An Garda Síochána for each year since 2009 are set out in Table 2.

Table 1

Department of Justice and Equality	Number of retirements
2009	56
2010	40
2011	32
2012	55
Irish Prison Service (discipline grades)
2009	193
2010	208
2011	95
2012	69
Courts Service
2009	47
2010	32
2011	29
2012	55
Legal Aid Board
2009	5
2010	7
2011	4
2012	7
National Disability Authority
2009	1
2010	0
2011	2
2012	1
Property Registration Authority
2009	32
2010	19
2011	12
2012	12
Garda Civilian
2009	54
2010	32
2011	43
2012	35

Table 2

An Garda Síochána	Number of retirements	Gratuity payments
2009	722	€76.4 million
2010	363	€34.2 million
2011	438	€51.7 million
2012 (to end May)	286	€33.1 million

It should be noted that the amount of gratuity payments may not relate directly to retirements in that particular year in all cases as members who retire towards the end of one year may not be paid their gratuity until the beginning of the following year.