Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Taoiseach the amount that was granted in pensions in each of the past five years to individuals who retired early from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35646/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Taoiseach the amount that was spent in each of the past five years on staff who replaced those who took early retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35661/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff within his Department who have availed of early retirement schemes in each of the past three years; the breakdown of such by the grade and age of the staff who availed of the schemes; the breakdown of the reason for granting early retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35834/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189, 190 and 194 together.

In the past five years one Assistant Secretary aged 59, one Executive Officer aged 53 and one Staff Officer aged 53 availed of the cost neutral early retirement option as governed by the Department of Finance Circular 10/2005. All of these retired staff were replaced by staff of the same grade, whose average annual salary is as follows: Assistant Secretary: €144, 986, Executive Officer: €41,531, Staff Officer: €42,444.