Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the recent Government legislation to end the provision of compulsory retirement at the age of 65, she will make arrangements to permit school caretakers to work beyond this traditional retirement age; and if the request of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 to continue to work as caretaker until the age of 66 will be acceded to. [29671/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 removed the requirement to retire on age grounds, in cases of persons coming within the definition of "new entrant" as set out in the Act. A new entrant under the Act is a person who commenced employment in the public service on or after 1 April 2004 or a person who returned to employment in the public service since that date after a break in service of more than 26 weeks. The person in question, who has been employed as a school caretaker since 1995, is required to retire at the age of 65 in accordance with the conditions of service pertaining to his employment. He reached that age in September of this year. To facilitate the appointment of a replacement, the Department of Education and Science has, as an exceptional matter, agreed to a request from the school authorities that he be retained in employment until 31 December 2004. As he is not a new entrant, it is not possible to approve his retention beyond that date.