Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [35644/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [35659/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [35832/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff within agencies within the remit of 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 reasons for granting early retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35847/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 347, 348, 358 and 359 together.

I assume that the Deputies are referring to the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme which was introduced into the Civil Service with effect from 1 April 2004. Under the terms of the Scheme, employees may retire between the ages of 50 and 59 on a reduced pension, at no net cost to the Exchequer. It should be pointed out that this is not a redundancy scheme and that staff who retire under the Scheme derive no additional financial benefit from availing of the Scheme. These staff are replaced in the normal course. In the period 1 April 2004 to 30 September 2008, a total of 5 staff in my Department and its Agencies have availed of the Scheme.