Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 594: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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. [35638/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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. [35653/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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. [35826/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 594, 595 and 616 together.

There is no early retirement scheme in operation for Civil Servants whereby retirees are approved for added years or enhanced pensions on retirement prior to the date of their preserved pension age, nor has there been such a scheme in the past five years. In certain circumstances the Chief Medical Officer may approve early retirement on ill health grounds, in which case the terms of the superannuation scheme for the officer in question will be applied.

Under the terms of the Department of Finance Circular 10/2005, Public Service Pension Reform: Introduction of cost neutral early retirement, public servants have the option to retire up to ten years before preserved pension age, with immediate payment of superannuation benefits, subject to actuarial reduction to take account of the early payment of the lump sum and the linger period over which the pension would be paid. There is no additional cost to the state for the operation of this scheme.