Written answers

Thursday, 26 September 2013

Department of Finance

Banking Sector Redundancies

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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77. To ask the Minister for Finance if all staff accepting voluntary redundancy/retiring from AIB were offered briefing on their retirement entitlements; if these seminars were made available to all retiring staff equally; where these briefings were held; if they were more than one day events, if the bank covered accommodation and hospitality costs for the employees attending; if so, what was the overall cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40206/13]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed that the Severance Programme in AIB commenced in June 2012 and involved the preparation of briefing packs for all staff considering early retirement or voluntary severance. In respect of Early Retirement, AIB Staff Pensions Department prepare individual figures for staff in advance of them accepting an offer from the Bank. This information is provided directly to individual staff members and does not involve seminars. I have been informed by AIB that a separate, long-standing process exists where staff who are retiring at normal retirement date or earlier may attend a Retirement Seminar around the time of their departure from AIB. This is provided by many companies in the public and private sector to retiring staff and is considered good practice to help staff adjust to retirement. This service has been provided by AIB to its staff going back over many years. These seminars conducted over two days, involve a number of presentations from organisations such as the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and medical practitioners etc. The Bank covers the cost of the seminars.

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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78. To ask the Minister for Finance if all staff accepting voluntary redundancy/retiring from PTSB were offered briefing on their retirement entitlements; if these seminars were made available to all retiring staff equally; where these briefings were held; if they were more than one day events, if the bank covered accommodation and hospitality costs for the employees attending; if so, the overall cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40207/13]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Permanent TSB has informed me that staff who were offered and accepted Voluntary Severance were advised that they would be offered the standard deferred pension benefits in accordance with the rules of their pension scheme. Permanent TSB advises me that details of the deferred pension benefits were issued to such staff members by the Trustees of the Pension scheme of which they were a member. I have been advised by Permanent TSB that it did not host briefings or seminars for staff leaving on Voluntary Severance. Permanent TSB has informed me that it did not offer voluntary early retirement to staff.

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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79. To ask the Minister for Finance if all staff accepting voluntary redundancy/retiring from Bank of Ireland were offered briefing on their retirement entitlements; if these seminars were made available to all retiring staff equally; where these briefings were held; if they were more than one day events, if the bank covered accommodation and hospitality costs for the employees attending; if so, the overall cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40208/13]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Bank of Ireland has informed me that it offers an appropriate range of supports to all employees whose application for Voluntary Parting is accepted by the Group. Bank of Ireland supports include:

- The opportunity to avail of a Financial one-to-one over the telephone with a Qualified Financial Adviser.

- The opportunity to contact a Career Coach to have a telephone coaching session to talk through any career questions.

- Access to an Online Career Centre for 6 months after leaving BOI.

- Opportunity to attend a career support workshop appropriate to parting staff needs.

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