Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances under which the Government agreed to an extension of four years in the term of office of the president of UCC; if it is planned to extend this facility to any other head of a third level college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19652/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Universities Act 1997, any amendment to the superannuation scheme of University College Cork requires the approval of the Higher Education Authority and the consent of the Minister for Education and Science and the consent of the Minister for Finance. I recently consented to an amendment to the superannuation scheme of University College Cork as did my colleague the Minister for Finance.

The amendment provided that the present holder of the Office of President of University College Cork shall hold office for a period of ten years from 26 January 1999. By making such provision, the amendment removed the requirement to retire at age 65 from the present holder of the office. The text of the amendment is contained in statute J of UCC. As is required under the provisions of the Universities Act 1997, the statute will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in due course, as a statutory instrument.

The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 removed the requirement to retire on age grounds from most public servants who were appointed on or after 1 April 2004.