Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding teachers who are coming up to retirement age but want to continue teaching; the pay arrangements in place in such situations; if this a temporary arrangement; the length of time it is expected to continue; the age to which teachers can work after 65 years of age; his plans to amend this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17897/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In December 2017 this Government committed to makes changes to the compulsory retirement age in the public sector which currently requires those affected, including some teachers, to retire at age 65. The proposed change, which will increase the compulsory retirement age to 70 years, will require the enactment of legislation and my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform is progressing this draft legislation at present.

Pending the legislative changes referred to above the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform set out temporary measures which will apply to those affected and who will reach age 65 before the legislation has commenced. That circular from DPER further authorised Government Departments and Offices to adapt those temporary arrangements so as to make them available to public service bodies under their aegis.

The temporary arrangements in the Education and Training sector mirror those outlined by DPER and my Department recently issued a Circular and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on this matter to the sector.

In essence these arrangements permit someone with a compulsory retirement age of 65 years to continue working until they reach State pension age currently age 66. The person concerned must retire, take their lump-sum payment but can return directly to their post in the educational institution. They will return to work on the first point of the relevant pay-scale. It is intended that these temporary arrangements will continue until the commencement of the legislation to change the compulsory retirement age.

Full details of the Circular and FAQs which are published on my Department’s website are attached for ease of reference.