Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount that was granted in pensions in each of the past five years to individuals who retired early from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35645/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount that was spent in each of the past five years on staff who replaced those who took early retirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35660/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together.

Officers who retire from the Department before the minimum retirement age of 60 can only do so either on grounds of ill health, which is subject to the approval of the Chief Medical Officer, or under the terms of the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme, which was introduced in 2004. This scheme allows officers to retire between the ages of 50 and 60 with actuarially reduced pension awards. The details sought by the Deputy are set out in the table.

The following table shows the number of early retirements in each of the 5 years and the total average annual cost, in that year, of replacement staff, taking account of the grade of the staff concerned.