Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 37: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has conducted an assessment on the impact of the early retirement scheme on the management of social welfare services and key functions within her Department. [23299/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To date, 70 applications have been received for the incentivised scheme of early retirement from staff in the Department. The scheme remains open for applications until 1 September 2009, and while the situation is under constant review, it is not possible to conduct a full assessment on the impact of the scheme on the Department until then.

Staff of the Department have been advised that, taking account of the current pressures on the Department and, in the interest of maintaining services to customers, it may not be possible to approve all applications and that some applications may have to be deferred.