Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed currently in his Department; the number that currently have no office space or workstation; the number that must remain away from work as a result; if he will provide the information in tabular readable form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27323/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of staff serving in my Department in wholetime equivalent terms at 30 June 2008 was 615.17. There are no Officers without office space or workstations.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has in place an early retirement scheme that is available to Departmental staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27338/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to a voluntary early retirement scheme. No such scheme is available to staff in the Civil Service. However, there are other arrangements which make provision for retirement earlier than normal pension age in certain circumstances. Arrangements for cost-neutral early retirement were introduced in 2005 under Department of Finance Circular 10/2005 and are available in the Civil and Public Service generally. In broad terms this facility, which was recommended by the Commission on Public Service Pensions, allows staff who are within ten years of their normal pension age to apply for early retirement with immediate payment of their superannuation benefits. The benefits are actuarially reduced to ensure that the early payment is cost-neutral to the Exchequer. Retirement before normal pension age with immediate payment of superannuation benefits may be permitted on medical grounds. Superannuation benefits may also be paid to a Civil Servant before normal pension age as a consequence of the abolition of his or her post or removal from office to facilitate improvements in the organisation of the Department by which greater efficiency and economy can be effected.