Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of retired civil or public servants that have been retained by his Department since January 2013 on a short term contract or on a consultancy basis where normal abatement rules do not apply. [35840/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Retired public sector workers are engaged from time to time by my Department in areas where specific expertise is required for a short fixed period, and these persons provide a level of knowledge, experience and background compatible with such requirements. In general the abatement principle, which ensures that the fee paid plus pension does not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would receive if he/she had continued service in their former post, applies to payments as appropriate.

I can also confirm that there were two retired public servants who were engaged in specific projects during the period since January 2013, under the aegis of my Department; one as Chairman of a VFM Review Group at a cost of €1,200 and the other as a Process Auditor for the procurement of a National Postcode System at a cost of €9,840.

In addition to the above, one retired public servant sits on the Audit Committee for the Department on a pro bono basis.