Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, many other parts of our public service have mandatory early retirement. The pension schemes of affected members of the public service reflect that. Although not always, the schemes tend to have a slightly different accrual rate to reflect scheme members' early retirement.

I acknowledge what the Deputy said on this matter. Any changes in areas such as this are very difficult and complex and tend to have costs associated with them. If we make a change in one area, it always has consequences in others. As I have stated, there are personnel in other areas of our public service who have an earlier retirement age and, in many cases, a mandatory early retirement age. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I am sure she will continue to raise it with the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, who I have no doubt will raise it with me.

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