Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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289. To ask the Minister for Health if experienced paramedics can be given permission to work over the age of 66 years of age, in view of the shortage of paramedics. [18597/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the issue of retirement age, an Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, examined the issues arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors in 2016.

The Report of this Group, considered policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors, examining implications arising from retirement ages now and in the future.

The Group identified a set of framework principles to underpin policy in the area and made a number of recommendations assigned to Government Departments and Employer bodies for follow-up in that regard. A copy of the Report is available online at .

The Report of the Group was agreed by government in August 2016. On foot of one of the recommendations of the Report, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with Public Service employers, was tasked to review the current statutory and operational considerations giving rise to barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce up to and including the current age of entitlement to the Contributory State Pension. This review is currently under way and is expected to be completed by Q2 2017.

There are both legislative and contractual issues in relation to employees, including paramedics working beyond their current retirement age and it is anticipated that these issues will be addressed in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform review.