542. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of annual pension payments made by his Department that exceed €60,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31998/15]

All civil service pensions are paid by the Paymaster General's Office and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is providing these details. My Department is responsible for the payment of pensions to a number of former employees of State bodies under the aegis of the Department which are no longer in operation. None of the pension payments to these former employees exceed €60,000.