asked the Minister for Education the number of staff who have availed of the redundancy package offered to the public service; where such people are located; the average age of the people involved; the cost to the Exchequer of the redundancy package; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To date no officer of my Department has availed of the redundancy package. Of the officers who have been offered the package, nine have expressed an interest in availing of it. My Department is at present considering the matter in the context of its overall staffing requirements.