Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 550: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the costs associated with judges; the financial cost of salaries to judges; the specific value of the cost of staff assigned to work for judges; the specific cost of their pension arrangements and the actuarial value of the pensions for judges; if he will provide these figures for 2008 and the anticipated figures for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11671/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The current pay scales for the Judiciary are as follows:

The provisions relating to judicial pensions are contained in the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts, 1961 to 2008. Judges of the District Court require 20 years service for full pension entitlements and must retire at age 70. Judges of the Circuit, High and Supreme Courts require 15 years service for full pension entitlements and must retire on reaching 70 years if appointed after 6 April 1995 or on reaching 72 if appointed prior to that. Pensions are payable on a reduced pro rata basis once the retiring judge has a minimum of two years' service.

My Department has no responsibility for pay and pensions of judges. The matter is one for the Department of Finance. Support for judges is provided for as necessary by the staff of the Courts Service. The Service has responsibility for administration and management of the courts under the Courts Service Act 1998.