Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Certain staff in the education sector, such as teaching and lecturing staff, are not required to retire until the end of the school or academic year in which they reach the compulsory retirement age. This is to ensure continuity of the teaching provision throughout the year and to limit class disruption. I am sure Senators will appreciate this, in particular regarding examination students.

On the recommendation of the Minister for Education and Skills, the Government agreed that this arrangement should be maintained in the context of the new compulsory retirement age of 70. The amendment to section 4 is required in order that any service rendered by affected staff in the period between their 70th birthday and their retirement to the end of school and academic year, will be reckonable for pension purposes. The amendment to section 5 is required to ensure that where a statutory instrument or public service pension scheme provides for a compulsory retirement age, it will be read as 70 for the relevant public servants or, in the case of certain relevant public servants in the education sector, the end of the school or academic year in which they reach that age.

Both provisions are limited to the public service pension scheme made or approved by the Minister for Education and Skills with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Senators will appreciate that if a teacher reaches 70 in March but is getting their students ready for the leaving certificate or third level examinations in the summer, one does not want the students put out at a vulnerable point in their academic progress.