Public sector retirements will not affect frontline services: IMPACT

A spokesperson for the IMPACT trade union has said he is confident frontline services will not be affected by the public sector retirement scheme.

Around 8,000 public servants are due to retire at the end of this month, which represents about 3% of the total public and civil service.

The Taoiseach has warned that any gaps in services will have to be managed under the Croke Park Agreement.

Enda Kenny also said the Croke Park deal needed to yield results by March, or be reviewed by the Government.

Bernard Harbour of IMPACT said he was confident any problems from the start of March would be dealt with.

"Every so often people say this is going to collapse but we've got over that each time," he said.

"When you go back to 2,000 people leaving at the end of 2010, we were told that was the first test of Croke Park and it wouldn’t survive it. In fact, there were problems here and there but they were dealt with and I'm confident that will happen this time."