Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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573. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the current regulations that determine the retirement age of home help workers within the Health Service Executive; if he will outline the current retirement procedures that are applied to home help workers [30240/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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While the HSE employs a significant number of home helps directly, the majority of home helps working in the health service are employed by organisations working on behalf of the HSE.

There are no specific regulations governing the retirement age of home helps within the HSE or broader health service. Retirement age, if any, can vary depending on the nature of the contract held, whether the person is an employee of the HSE or working for an organisation providing services on its behalf. The compulsory retirement age of 65 has been removed for staff members defined as "new entrant public servants", enabling staff to remain in work longer should they wish, subject to suitability and health requirements. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy, outlining the different circumstances that may arise for its staff or staff working on its behalf.