Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
39. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are on public or Civil Service pensions and have been recruited for work on any basis, either permanent or temporary, under the remit of her Department in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39552/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is outlined as follows.
The Department's Chief Medical Advisor was retained beyond his retirement date of 29th February 2012. The decision to re-employ the Chief Medical Advisor was taken due to his specific skills and his involvement in the policy reform of the illness related schemes, the difficulty and long lead-in time for replacing his skills, and the critical importance of ensuring continuity and a high level of service to customers of the Department. The Department held a competition to replace the Chief Medical Adviser in late 2013, however, no candidate was deemed suitable at interview. The position is being re-advertised again this week.
As an exception to the current moratorium on recruitment, the Department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical staff absences and to assist with the roll-out of the new Public Service Card. There are currently two temporary staff members who are retired civil servants occupying these posts.
The Pensions Authority and the Citizens Information Board come under the remit of the Department. Two retired public servants were re-hired by the Pensions Authority in 2011; one at Higher Executive Officer level and one at Assistant Principal Officer level. Both individuals were recruited directly by the Pensions Authority, on three year fixed-term temporary contracts. The Citizen's Information Board had one former staff member hired on a contract for service basis from October to December 2013.
In all of these cases the rules governing abatement of pensions are applied.
