Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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428. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the directives or circulars from her Department that have issued to State-funded services, including MABS, regarding the mandatory retirement age; the way that this issue is being treated in State-funded organisations; the way that it impacts in particular on a cohort of workers who were seconded from her Department to these agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62253/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department which are relevant to this question are the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Authority. The details requested by the Deputy are set out for each body below:

Citizens Information Board

The Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is the statutory body responsible for providing information, advice (including money and budgeting advice services) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through providing some services directly through the citizensinformation.iewebsite while also funding a network of Service Delivery Companies. These Service Delivery Companies include the Citizens Information Services, Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS), the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities, the Sign Language Interpreting Service and the Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters.

CIB operates in line with Circular 03/2021: Guidance on Minimum Pension Ages/Compulsory Retirement Ages in the Public Service. The minimum retirement age for CIB staff is based on the date of commencement of employment in accordance with the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018.

CIB have informed my Department that all employees in the Service Delivery Companies receive a staff handbook as part of their contract. This is a guide to working within the organisation and it informs each employee of their terms and conditions of employment, including retirement policy. The retirement age for Service Delivery Company staff is 66, linked with the current State Pension age and agreed upon through a collective agreement process mediated by the Workplace Relations Commission.

Any Departmental staff seconded to any of the Service Delivery Companies remain members of staff of the Department and are covered by the same terms and conditions as other Departmental staff.

Pensions Authority

The Pensions Authority (‘the Authority’), which comes under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is a statutory body set up under the Pensions Act 1990, as amended. The Authority supervises compliance with the requirements of the Pensions Act and investigates suspected breaches of the Act.It also provides policy advice and technical support to the work of the Minister and Department of Social Protection, and relevant information and guidance to the public and those involved with pensions.

Regarding the retirement age of its staff, the Authority complies with Circular 03/2021. The minimum retirement age of Authority employees is determined by the date of commencing employment as a public servant and in accordance with the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018.

The Department has been advised that the Authority’s employees are provided with a copy of the Authority’s employee handbook which details the organisation’s policies and procedures. They are also provided with confirmation of their membership to the relevant superannuation scheme on commencing employment. Any Departmental staff seconded to the Authority remain members of staff of the Department and retain the associated terms and conditions.