New figures released by the Department of Education have revealed the payment details of teachers in Ireland who retired last year.

It was shown that primary and secondary teachers received €172 million in lump sums in 2012, with the numbers released in response to a Freedom of Information request. 

The money was paid to 1,848 primary and secondary teachers who received their retirement payments last year, with one secondary teacher taking home a tax-free payment in excess of €170,000.

On average, the 1,039 people who stopped teaching at primary schools last year were given €93,965, while the 809 no longer teaching at secondary schools typically received a lump sum of €92,373.

This is compared to the €181.99 million paid out by the Department of Education to the 1,868 teachers who retired from primary and secondary schools in 2011.

It was also shown that 28 per cent of retirements at primary schools and six per cent at secondary schools last year were at principal level.

Written by Donal Walsh

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