Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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105. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the increase in the compulsory retirement age from 65 to 70 years of age for all pre-2004 public servants and those working in public service bodies is binding across all of the public service with respect to the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018; the directions he has given to public service bodies in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4678/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 came into effect on 26 December 2018. The Act provides for an increase in the compulsory retirement age to 70, for public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. Any public servant covered by the Act now has the choice to work to age 70 on existing terms and conditions, subject to the normal standards of health and performance.

Public servants covered by the legislation are termed "relevant public servants" and this term is defined in Section 2 of the Act. The definition includes most pre-2004 public servants, other than a member of the uniformed pension fast accrual group, which comprises Gardai, Prison Officers, Firefighters and members of the Permanent Defence Force who, for operational reasons are required to retire early.

All public service employers have been informed that any relevant public servant who had not already reached his/her compulsory retirement age before the 26 December 2018 now has a new compulsory retirement age of 70.

Now that the legislation has come into effect, no public servant, other than a member of the uniformed pension fast accrual group mentioned above has a compulsory retirement age of less than 70.