Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Defence the average number of years served by Defence Forces personnel who have retired in each of the past five years; the average age of retiring personnel in each of the last five years; the annual cost to the Exchequer of Defence Forces pensions for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35004/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The gross cost of Defence Force Pensions for the years 2003-2007 is set out below.

2003 — €133m (million)

2004 — €143m

2005 — €150m

2006 — €164m

2007 — €177m

These amounts include all superannuation type benefits (pensions and gratuities) payable to ex-members of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) and their dependants.

Details of the average ages and service of all personnel who left the Permanent Defence Force in the last five (5) years is presented in the form of a Tabular Statement below. The higher incidence of turnover in the case of enlisted personnel, as against commissioned officers, is due to the different conditions of service under which these two groups operate.