Written answers

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Public Sector Staff Retirements

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of legislation regarding changes governing public service retirements. [28666/18]

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the drafting of legislation to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70 years of age; when this legislation will come before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29002/18]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when legislation to increase the compulsory retirement age for public servants will be published; the timeframe for the legislation to pass in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29011/18]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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111. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the publication of the legislation to abolish the mandatory retirement age for public sector workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29092/18]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 105, 107 and 111 together.

I thank the Deputies for their questions which are opportune. I am pleased to advise that I am bringing a Memorandum to the Government meeting on Thursday seeking approval for the publication of the relevant Bill which is to be entitled the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018. Subject to Government approval, my intention is to publish the Bill as soon as possible after the Government meeting.

The Bill will provide that any public servant reaching the age of 65, who is covered by the legislation, will be in a position to remain at work until they reach the new compulsory retirement age of 70.

The main provisions of the Bill as drafted are that:

- The vast majority of public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004 will have a new compulsory retirement age of 70;

- Those public servants will continue to accrue retirement benefits up to the new compulsory retirement age of 70, subject to a maximum of 40 years' service;

- The "uniformed pension fast accrual" group, i.e. Gardaí, Firefighters, Prison Officers and the members of the Permanent Defence Force, will be unaffected by these changes.

When the Bill is enacted public servants will no longer need to avail of the temporary 'interim arrangements' which currently allow affected public servants to retire and be rehired only until they reach the age of 66, which is the age of eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory).

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