Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is seeking voluntary redundancies and early retirements from staff in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6546/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There are currently no voluntary early retirement or redundancy schemes available to staff in the Civil Service. However, there are other arrangements which make provision for retirement earlier than normal pension age in certain circumstances.

Arrangements for cost-neutral early retirement were introduced in 2005 under Department of Finance Circular 10/2005 and are available in the Civil and Public Service generally. In broad terms this facility, which was recommended by the Commission on Public Service Pensions, allows staff who are within ten years of their normal pension age to apply for early retirement with immediate payment of their superannuation benefits. The benefits are actuarially reduced to ensure that the early payment is cost-neutral to the Exchequer. In addition retirement before normal pension age with immediate payment of superannuation benefits may be permitted on medical grounds.