Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Finance his intention regarding reform of the public service; his proposals to introduce an attractive lump sum and early retirement pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43191/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Task Force on the Public Service, Transforming Public Services was published yesterday. The Report provides an action plan for modernising Ireland's Public Service. The Government also published a major policy statement on Transforming Public Services. This sets out how the recommendations of the Task Force will be implemented. It also contains details of a number of initiatives to address Public Service numbers and expenditure and achieving value for money. The statement announced the establishment of a Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes which has been asked to report by the end of June.

As regards an early retirement scheme, as I announced in my recent Budget, a targeted voluntary early retirement scheme is to be introduced for the Health Service Executive to cover management/administrative staff, but may be extended to other surplus staff. I also informed Deputies that such a scheme would be extended to other areas of the public service where surplus staff are identified. This wider application of voluntary early retirement will form part of the consideration by Government of any surplus staff identified by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, and in the context of the ongoing rationalisation of State agencies.