PLANS FOR a new voluntary redundancy and early retirement scheme for staff in the Civil Service are to come before Cabinet within the next few weeks.
The extent of any new scheme will depend on the outcome of the restructuring of departments which is under way following changes announced on the formation of the new Government.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed last night that a memorandum was being drafted for the Cabinet on a new voluntary redundancy/early retirement scheme in the Civil Service.
The restructuring of Government departments follows the establishment of the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the new Department of Children.
Informed sources said that following this reorganisation, personnel deemed in excess of requirements would be offered redeployment to other areas.
However, staff who could not be redeployed could be offered voluntary redundancy or redeployment under the new proposals.
Minster for Public Service Reform Brendan Howlin will bring a memorandum on the voluntary redundancy/early retirement scheme to Cabinet within the next few weeks.
Sources said it was too early to discuss the terms that could be available under any voluntary redundancy scheme.
Last year the then government offered staff in the health service who left under a voluntary redundancy scheme a severance payment of three weeks’ pay per year of service in addition to statutory entitlements, subject to an overall limit of two years’ pay.
Some 2,006 personnel in managerial, administrative, clerical and support grades left the health service under the voluntary redundancy and early retirement schemes.
However, this was far less than the 5,000 staff the previous government had anticipated could leave under the schemes.
Staff who left the HSE under the schemes shared €101 million in payments.
The Department of Health has estimated that a reduction in the number of health service staff as a result of the schemes will generate net savings of €56 million this year.
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly last month suggested that a further voluntary redundancy scheme for HSE staff may be put in place by the autumn.
Separately, the agricultural advisory body Teagasc is seeking to shed 117 staff either through a voluntary redundancy/early retirement scheme or by way of redeploying personnel to other agencies in the public service.
Teagasc has yet to receive approval for either of these initiatives.
Mr Howlin is expected to bring proposals for a planned comprehensive spending review to a special meeting of the Cabinet next Monday.