Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost to his Department and each agency under the aegis of his Department for early retirements, termination of contracts and resignations for 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 in tabular readable form. [33949/09]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1253: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons in his Department and each agency under the aegis of his Department who took early retirement, had their contract terminated or resigned in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 in tabular readable form. [33964/09]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1268: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of times on which his Department has sanctioned or applied for the payment of a pension top-up or discretionary payment on retirement to a staff member of the Department or any agency under their remit in each of the past three years; the amount paid in each case; the position vacated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34339/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1252, 1253, 1268 together.

There are a number of circumstances in which it is possible for teachers and other education sector staff to retire on pension before preserved pension age. This is 60 years of age or, in the case of new entrants appointed on or after 1 April 2004 for the first time or following at least a 6 month break in service, 65 years of age.

Firstly, under the 55/35 year rule a teacher, other than a new entrant, 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.

Secondly, under cost-neutral early retirement, a public servant aged 50 years or over (55 years in the case of new entrants) has the option of an immediate cost-neutral early retirement pension and lump sum on resignation. The cost-neutral early retirement benefits are actuarially reduced to take account of the early payment of the lump sum and the longer period over which pension would be paid.

Thirdly, a public servant with more than 5 years pensionable service may be awarded a disability pension which may include the award of added years. A person with less than 5 years service who has to retire on medical grounds has the option of taking a once-off lump sum payment.

Finally, under the pilot Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers, a pension could be granted 3 strands. Strand 1 related to teachers who were consistently experiencing professional difficulties in their teaching duties and an award of up to 5 added years was permitted. Strand 2 related to teachers whose retirement would provide their school with an opportunity to enhance the education service provided through facilitating change and up to 2 added years could be awarded. Strand 3 related to permanent teachers who were in posts which were surplus to requirements, from which they could not be redeployed readily and which would not be filled should they leave the posts. Up to 7 added years could be awarded. The Government decided to suspend the pilot early retirement scheme for teachers in all sectors until further notice as part of the Budget and Estimates decision for 2009.

Details of the numbers of teachers who retired under each of these headings in the years 2006 to 2008 and up to 31 August 2009 is set out in a table. The figures for post-primary teachers do not include VEC teachers where the retirements and pension benefit awards are made by the relevant VEC. Other than the award of added years for ill-health and the, now suspended, Early Retirement Scheme, there are no discretionary payments made to teachers.

A teacher who resigns or whose contract is terminated and who has at least two years pensionable service may apply for a pension and lump sum from age 60 (age 65 in the case of new entrants) based on actual service. Each year the Department pays a number of preserved pensions under this category.

Details of the number of Department staff who have taken early retirement and those whose contracts have terminated in the years 2006 to 2009 are included in a separate table. The Department has not sanctioned or applied a pension top- up or discretionary payment on retirement to a staff member of the Department in this period.

My Department does not record the full actuarial costs related to pensions granted by it.

My Department will seek to obtain information in relation to early retirement, resignation and termination of staff contracts, and discretionary payments for staff employed by agencies under its aegis.