Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of persons who are on public or civil service pensions who have been recruited for work on any basis, either permanent or temporary, under the remit of his Department in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39546/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel and civilian employees attached to military installations.

In 2012, my Department engaged 1 retired public servant as civilian driver to the Minister of State, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D. This appointment is to a temporary unestablished position in the Civil Service on a fixed term contract basis. No further retired public servants have been recruited to Civil Service posts in my Department since 2012.

My Department has also employed 7 retired public servants as civilian employees attached to military installations: 3 were recruited in 2012, 1 in 2013 and 3 in 2014. These positions were filled following a competitive open recruitment process through FÁS.

In 2012 a retired public servant was appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Government to the office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces on a part time three day week basis. This appointment was made following a competitive open recruitment process through the Public Appointments Service.

The Defence Organisation engages the services of retired public servants from time to time for interview boards, and such engagements are normally remunerated on a fee basis. In the period 2012 to date in 2014, a total of 69 retired public servants were engaged to serve on interview boards, primarily by the Defence Forces. These services were engaged on a board by board basis.