Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí seeking early retirement in County Laois. [9776/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Public servants, including Gardaí, who retire on or before 29 February 2012 will receive pension benefits based on their salary scales applicable on 31st December 2009 and they, like others presently in receipt of public service pensions, will pay a Public Service Pension Reduction (P.S.P.R.) on their pensions thereafter. This reduction is a scaled percentage of their actual pension. Public servants, including Gardaí, who retire after 29 February will receive pension benefits based on their then current salary scales (as already affected by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009) but they will not pay the Public Service Pension Reduction on their pensions.

Members of An Garda Síochána who are over 50 years of age and do not have 30 years service may also avail of a cost neutral early retirement (C.N.E.R.) scheme. Their pension and lumps sums are actuarially reduced depending on their length of service and age at the time of retirement. I have been informed by the Commissioner that since 1 January 2010, 3 members have availed of this scheme, none of whom are stationed in Laois.

Almost all Gardaí take voluntary retirement i.e. they leave before the compulsory retirement age of 60 years of age - in 2010 there were 353 voluntary retirements, 9 compulsory retirements and 1 C.N.E.R., and in 2011 there 428 voluntary retirements, 8 compulsory retirements and 2 C.N.E.R.s.