Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number and grades of civil servants who have been re-employed by her Department having taken the early retirement package or retired due to reaching the retirement age in each year since 2005. [20229/12]

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of public servants who have retired from her Department, under the early retirement scheme or otherwise, and who are now back on her Department's payroll; if these retirees have been re employed on a full time, part time or contract basis; the position they hold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20450/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 441 together.

Eight retired former public servants were recruited on short term contracts in the Department of Social Protection from June 2010. These officers were employed on a part time basis as Appeals Officers, and their contracts terminated at the end of December 2011. One of the Department's Medical Assessors was retained on a temporary contract beyond retirement which ended on the 20 January 2012. The Department's Chief Medical Advisor was also retained beyond his retirement date of 29 February 2012 and is currently employed on a temporary contract basis. In addition, during 2010 a retired officer was employed to chair an interdepartmental group to consider the legislation required to provide for legal recognition by the State of the acquired gender of transsexual persons. The decision to re-employ or retain this small number of staff was taken due to their specific skills and experience, the difficulty and long lead-in time for replacing such skills, and the critical importance of ensuring continuity and a high level of service to customers of the Department.