Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired public servants employed on short-term contracts by his Department and by all bodies under its aegis, and the total cost of that employment for all purposes, including interview boards, in the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010. [7180/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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A total of 59 retired public servants were employed on short-term contracts by my Department in 2010 at a cost of some €499,000 in total.

My Department uses the services of retired public servants for a range of duties including, for example, the facilitation of various appeals processes such as those provided for under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 and those that relate to teaching staff allocations to primary and postprimary schools.

With regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, any expenditure incurred with regard to the employment of consultants, etc. on short term contracts is an administrative matter for each agency. This information is not collated centrally by my Department. However if the Deputy has a particular agency in mind I would be happy to have my officials obtain the relevant details and communicate them to the Deputy.