Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown by school of teachers who have successfully applied for early retirement; the dates from which these teachers will be leaving their respective schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12085/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department are addressing the pension benefit entitlements for those who are retiring at this time. The number of teachers in Primary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools who have applied to retire in the period 1 January to 29 February 2012 is 1,166. Information received from the Vocational Education Sector indicates that 220 teachers have applied to retire in that sector during that period. It is important to note that schools will be able to fill vacancies arising from retirements. A circular was issued by my Department in July 2011 requesting school Boards of Management to inform all staff in their schools (who are members of an occupation pension scheme) who intended to retire on or before 29 February 2012 that they were required to give three calendar months' notice of their date of retirement. The circular also stated that a notification may not be withdrawn on or after the date indicated as the last day of service. It was pointed out in the circular that failure to give the required notice could result in a delay in payment of pension benefits. Accordingly, the actual number retiring will not be accurately known until some time after 29 February 2012 when the details are processed and compiled. When the work of processing pension benefits for those retiring has been addressed, it is intended to commence work on compiling detailed statistical data on the number of teachers who retired and to publish this information on my Department's website.

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