Burton rejects FF claims of 'shambolic' handling of retirements

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said the Government has been engaged in "continuous planning" on a weekly basis for retirements from the public service.

The Coalition has been under fire after the Taoiseach Enda Kenny admitted the Cabinet will only establish implementation teams in each Department at the Cabinet meeting next week.

More than 8,000 public servants will leave at the end of the month to take advantage of better retirement terms.

Taking leaders questions in the Dáil, Minister Burton rejected Fianna Fáil claims that the Government's handling of this has been "shambolic and last minute".

Ms Burton said: "This has been an ongoing matter of continuous discussion between individual ministers and the secretary generals of their departments.

"I can speak for myself, but I know I also speak for other ministers, I have discussed this on a regular basis with my secretary general on a weekly basis."