Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Calleary. The Garda Commissioner, with the consent of the Minister, can extend the age of retirement of a Garda member where this is in the interests of the efficiency of the Garda Síochána due to special qualifications or experience in policing possessed by that member.

In terms of the Covid-19 pandemic, Garda members who had reached the age of 60 and had significant experience in policing, and the particular skills to support the Commissioner's urgent policing priorities during the pandemic, were given the opportunity to extend their service. The Commissioner was very keen that this would happen. He, therefore, invited applications from those who would otherwise have been required to retire because of their age, and extensions of up to 12 months were granted to 49 Garda members, including three at the rank of chief superintendent.

Since the start of 2020, approval has also been given to requests by the Commissioner to extend the retirement age of five other Garda members, including two at assistant commissioner rank, to assist in succession planning and prevent the loss of essential skills to the Garda organisation.

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