Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position in circumstances in which a person aged 65 years of age and employed as a SNA in a school wishes to continue their employment until they are 70 years of age; and his views on whether they should be given first refusal if a post or part of a post becomes available in the location in which they are employed. [24014/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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On 5 December 2017, the Government announced changes in respect of the retirement ages of public service staff recruited prior to 1April 2004.  In effect, this advised that the compulsory retirement age for public servants recruited before this date would be increased to 70 years.

My Department issued circular 27/2018 on 5 April 2018 to set out the interim measures to apply pending the enactment of legislation to give effect to the Government decision.  The main provision of the interim arrangements is to permit public service staff recruited prior to 1April 2004 to stay until they reach the Contributory State Pension age (currently 66 years), subject to certain conditions including that a continuing role is available for that employee for the duration of the retention period.  Where staff currently have existing arrangements which allow them to work to the end of the school/academic year in which they reach the age of 65 (rather than retiring on the date that they reach 65), such staff who avail of the interim arrangements may work to the end of the school/academic year in which they reach the age of 66. 

My Department has also issued a Frequently Asked Questions document to accompany circular 27/2018 which details arrangements in applying for retention beyond retirement dates and the impact of this on the employment conditions for staff who wish to avail of this option.  In this regard, I wish to draw your attention to Point 17 of this document which notes that Special Needs Assistants do not retain their pre-retirement date seniority in such cases.  Circular 27/2018 and the FAQs are available on my Department's website at the following links:

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