Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the severance packages for each retiring staff member in her Department over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39544/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An officer who retires or is removed from the civil service due to the abolition of his/her office or to Departmental reorganisation may, at the discretion of the Minister for Finance, be awarded a special severance gratuity in addition to pension and retirement lump sum, within statutory limits. This gratuity is also payable in certain circumstances to Secretaries-General of Government Departments and Offices who, pursuant to their conditions of appointment, are obliged to retire before maximum retiring age on the expiration of their fixed-term appointments.

In this Department only one officer was awarded a Severance Gratuity under Section 7 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963, during the past three years.

Pensions and lump sums paid to staff on retirement are calculated with reference to final salary and on the length of service.