Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I am pleased to report to the House that the management of retirements from the public sector at the ending of the "grace period" on the 29th of February last was broadly successful. This is not to say that there were not problems in some locations in the public service, rather that any problems that arose were resolved locally as is right and proper.

Returns from the various sectors indicate that approximately 8,500 public servants will retire this year. Latest reports from the various sectors within the public service indicate that some 8,000 retired in the first two months of the year. The staffing number returns for the end of the first quarter in 2012 are being received by my Department at present from across all the sectors. These will be published on my Department's website in the usual manner and will show the updated and confirmed position at that point.

There was a degree of hype in the run-up to the end of February. One broadcaster asked me to be on stand-by to meet the Y2K level of catastrophe that was supposed to happen but did not. I am glad that there were no significant issues. I pay tribute to local managers and workers across the public service who managed that significant downsizing, which would normally represent a year's out-take, in two months.

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