Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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370. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person is precluded from working as a census field officer due to age and or taxation reasons; if there are any reasons that persons over 65 years of age are prohibited from taking up casual work, temporary work or contract work in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31937/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Single Public Service Pension Scheme ("Single Scheme") commenced with effect from 1 January 2013. It applies to almost all public servants recruited from that date and provides, inter alia, for a maximum retirement age of 70 for all members. On that basis, any member of the Single Scheme must retire on reaching the age of 70.

I understand that employers may specify a retirement age for employees provided it is based on objective reasons. You will be aware that in certain High Court cases the State has been successful in defending the question of existing retirement ages.

I also recently published the Report of the Interdepartmental Group on Fuller Working Lives which was agreed by Government. The Group, which was chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, considered policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors, examining implications arising from retirement ages now and in the future. The report made recommendations on a policy framework to address the issues identified and to support fuller working lives.

In accordance with one of its recommendations, my Department is currently preparing to carry out a review, with Public Service employers, of the current statutory and operational considerations giving rise to barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce.