Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to change the retirement age in the civil service and public sector bodies in view of the fact that qualifying age for the State pension is set to increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43924/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Rules on retirement age vary across the public service and are generally set out down in legislation; any changes would therefore be likely to require amendments to various Acts.

Changes introduced in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 apply to new entrants from 1 April 2004 and recent changes introduced in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 will only apply to new entrants to the civil and public service from a specific future date.

The following arrangements apply to a majority of civil and public servants. However, there are variances in the maximum retirement age set in certain sectors.

- People who joined the civil and public service prior to 1 April 2004 are, in general, required under legislation to retire at the maximum retirement age which is 65 years of age. There is no proposal at the moment to amend legislation to alter the current compulsory retirement age.

- People who joined the civil and public service on or after 1 April 2004 and are a "new entrant" as defined in section 2 of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, are not required to retire at 65 as the maximum retirement age for such persons was removed under this Act.

- Members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, whose terms are set out in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, will have a maximum retirement age of 70.

We are required under the terms of the Memorandum of Understandingwith the EU/ECB/IMF to reduce the numbers in the public service. To change the retirement age for employees who were recruited before 1 April 2004 could adversely affect the current drive to reduce numbers and the consequent reduction in the pay bill in the Public Service.