Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. It is impossible to predict who might pass away in any one year, which might impact on the figures. The Estimate is frequently higher in some instances than the out-turn. This year, the out-turn will be higher than the Estimate and that is where we must supplement from within the Department of Defence Vote for any additional expenditure that might have to be incurred. Effectively we are half way through the year and we do not have an insight into who might retire. This happens in both the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána. There are individuals who may reach a point where they will get all or the substantial part of their pensions but they enjoy the job and stay on while others retire unexpectedly for health or family reasons. It is an inexact science trying to predict the number of retirements in any one year.