Primary and secondary teachers retiring last year received €172 million in lump sums,with one secondary teacher receiving a tax-free payment of more than €170,000.

According to figures released by the Department of Education, the highest lump sum gross payment received by a teacher amounted to €177,260.

The department confirmed in response to a Freedom of Information request that €172.09 million was paid out in gross lump sums to 1,848 primary and secondary teachers who received their retirement payments in 2012.

This follows the Department of Education paying out €181.99 million to 1,868 primary and secondary school teachers who retired in 2011.

The figures show that on average, the 1,039 primary teachers who retired last year received a payment of €93,965, with the 809 secondary school teachers receiving an average lump sum of €92,373.

The figures relating to primary teachers who retired last year show that one teacher received a lump sum of €161,060. Five other primary school teachers received in excess of €150,000 each.

The figures show that five secondary school teachers received lump sums between €160,000 and €170,000 with 12 receiving payments between €150,000 and €160,000.

The statistics show that 63 secondary school teachers received lump sums between €120,000 and €150,000 with an additional 251 receiving lump sums between €100,000 and €120,000.

The figures relating to primary school teachers show that 17 received lump sums between €140,000 and €150,000 with an additional 33 receiving lump sums between €130,000 and €140,000.

The number of retirements is based on the year in which the lump sum was paid and a separate Department of Education report finds that the senior ranks in primary and secondary schools were hardest hit.

The figures show that 28 per cent of retirements at primary level last year were at principal level, with the principal retiring in 7.5 per cent of all schools.The figures show that 24 per cent of the retirees were at deputy principal level.