Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin estimates that some 9,000 public servants will retire at the end of February so that they can receive pensions based on their salary before across-the-board cuts were imposed in 2009.

The largest number leaving is expected to be from the Health Service Executive and 1,000 teachers are likely to go. Having teachers departing in February is seen as a problem for students in exam years who would expect continuity in the weeks prior to their exams.