Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 291: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired public servants who have been re-hired in his Department during the period of April 2011 to April 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25242/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information requested is not readily available and it would require a considerable commitment of time and staffing resources to compile such a listing.

I do, however, have information to hand in relation to the number of retired members of my Department's staff that were re-hired in 2011 and during the first quarter of 2012. In all 15 retired staff were re-hired in 2011 and 4 were rehired during the first quarter of 2012. Retired members of staff are re-engaged from time to time on a short-term basis to carry out certain tasks that require their particular experience and expertise. Such engagements are subject to the abatement principle whereby the fees payable are set at a level that ensures that the individuals' pension plus fees do not exceed the salary level of their positions prior to retirement. The persons in question all retired prior to 2010 and therefore did not benefit from the transitional arrangements that operated up to 29 February 2012 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009.