Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Finance if the regulations pertaining to the early retirement scheme for persons in the public service have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4129/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently preparing guidelines for the operation of a scheme of cost neutral early retirement in the public service, as decided on by Government in September 2004. The process of drafting these guidelines, which has involved consultation with the public service unions, is well advanced. On this basis, I expect that the guidelines will issue shortly, thereby allowing the scheme to become operative. In line with the Government decision, the guidelines will provide for the early retirement facility to be made available to serving staff and to persons who resigned with an entitlement to preserved superannuation benefit on or after 1 April 2004.