Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of retirements that are expected from the Civil Service at the levels of Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Principal Officer and Assistant Principal Officer in the remainder of 2011; the expected costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24037/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I understand that it is likely that one Secretary-General will retire before the end of this year.

The provision in the Book of Estimates for Vote 7 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) was based on a projected 1,400 retirements and 600 deaths of pensioners or their surviving dependants.

The 2011 gross provision for Vote 7 is €450.025 million and it is estimated that the average pension cost is €27,000 per annum.

It difficult to predict with any certainty the number of retirements from the Civil Service in any year, as staff may retire at any time between 60 and 65 years of age, or indeed earlier than this with an actuarial reduction being applied to their pension.

The rate of retirements thus far this year is somewhat slower than originally estimated, but it is too early to make definite estimates of the end-year position on the Vote. The ending of the 'grace period' at end February 2012 is a factor.