asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food 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 he will make a statement on the matter.

Up to 30 October 32 officers in my Department requested that they be allowed to avail themselves of the scheme. Their average age is 49. None has yet actually retired and it is not possible at this stage to give an indication of the cost to the Exchequer.