Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

335. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason that retained fire fighters have to retire at 58 years of age; his views on whether this is discriminatory; and his plans to change this. [16747/17]

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

International research indicates that the retirement age of 55 is the optimum age to ensure that fire-fighters are capable of satisfactorily performing the tasks expected of them. The retirement age of 55 years of age was introduced because of health and safety considerations related to the job. Since the enactment of the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 1989, underpinned by subsequent legislation, each fire authority, as an employer, has a statutory duty to avoid placing employees at risk.

A collective agreement was reached between the Local Government Management Services Board and the trade unions involved (SIPTU and ATGWU) in November 2002. This collective agreement provided, inter alia, for the appointment of an Expert Group which in turn would advise as to the retirement age for retained firefighters. The Expert Group's Report on Retirement Age recommended that the retirement age for retained firefighters remain at 55, with provision for an annual extension, subject to medical assessment, up to 58 years of age. Following the publication of the report of the Expert Group in April 2003, a circular was issued by my Department in November 2003 setting out the age requirements for retained firefighters. This Circular specifically stated that under no circumstances should any fire-fighter who does not have a written contract of employment with a higher retirement age be employed beyond age 58.

I have no plans to change the age limit.