Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Yes, that is exactly right. As the Chairman is aware, the Government plans to reduce the total size of the public sector from 320,000 to 282,500. I think the current figure is approximately 290,000. To answer the Chairman's question directly, the additional retirements will be factored into these figures. A greater than expected number of people have retired this year. My understanding is that lump sum payments come from the Departments, which then recoup those moneys through the Vote process. There has been a greater drag on lump sums because a larger number of people have come forward.