Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the incentivised scheme of early retirement, announced in the supplementary budget of 7 April 2009, will apply to teachers in the primary and secondary school sectors; the number of expressions of interest or applications for this scheme which have been received by both civil servants within his Department and by teachers working in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23710/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement for public servants over 50 years of age was announced in the Budget in April this year. It does not apply to teachers for 2 reasons.

Firstly, primary and post-primary teachers are not subject to the recent moratorium on recruitment which applies to most other parts of the public service. Instead, the number of teacher and Special Needs Assistant (SNA)posts will be capped at the overall aggregate number of such posts actually in place in schools after the new school year has begun in September 2009, based on the agreed Staffing Schedule for 2009/10 and other existing policies for determining teacher and SNA numbers. If the posts were not filled, it would be detrimental to the educational interests of students and the exception to the moratorium reflects this.

Secondly, The Early Retirement Scheme is aimed at civil and public servants who retire before the age of 60 and whose superannuation options are limited to receiving their entitlements at preserved pension age or, for people aged over 50, immediate payment of pension benefits subject to an actuarial reduction. It is not being applied to sectors who have fast accrual of service (eg An Garda Síochána, Prison Officers and the Army) or for those who have other preferential pension benefits such as the 55/35 year rule for teachers. Under the 55/35 year rule a teacher, other than a new entrant appointed after 1 April 2004, who has reached the age of 55 years and has at least 35 years of actual pensionable service, may retire voluntarily. There is no actuarial reduction in benefits and credit for certain pre-service training is given in order to assist teachers to reach the 35-year threshold for retirement. To date, my Department has received 15 applications under the new incentivised retirement scheme.