Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will end age-related compulsory retirement in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2441/16]

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

For public servants other than those who are members of the 2013-commenced Single Public Service Pension Scheme, responsibility for occupational pension terms and any maximum or compulsory retirement ages in particular sectors in general lies with the relevant employer, pension administrator or Government Department in the first instance.

In the civil service, for which I am responsible, the maximum retirement age of 65 years applicable to civil servants recruited before 1 April 2004 is provided for in the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956, and also applies to such staff in bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Any consideration of changes to existing public service compulsory retirement ages would need to have regard to the service-delivery requirements of the particular sectors, existing terms and conditions of employment, including pension provision and other entitlements of the staff concerned, workforce planning issues and impacts on the public finances.

It should be noted that, for certain occupations, such as Gardaí and military personnel,maximum retirement ages in the public service can be lower than the standard age; this applies both in respect of relevant members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme and earlier "pre-existing" schemes.

The issue of retirement age (usually 65 years) as it applies in the workplace both in the public and private sectors of the economy in the context of the age of eligibility for the State Pension (currently 66 years, rising to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028), has been the subject of some initial consultations by my officials with relevant Government Departments.

In recognition of the complex and wide ranging nature of this issue, the Government recently (19 January 2016) approved my proposal to establish an Interdepartmental Working Group to conduct a focused examination (to include consideration of public service aspects) and to make recommendations to Government on a policy framework to support longer working lives. This Group will be chaired by a senior official from my Department and will include representatives from the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Justice and Equality, Education and Skills, Health and Social Protection. My intention is that the Group will convene in the coming weeks.