Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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598. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff in the Defence Forces who must retire in the next three years due to the mandatory age of retirement; the way it is intended to replace these members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13419/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following table details the number of PDF personnel due to retire in the next three years on age grounds:

Compulsory retirement ages and service limits in the Defence Forces are kept under review with key considerations of manpower policy and operational needs.

In 2021, the Minister for Defence secured agreement, with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for an extension in service limits for Privates and Corporals who were recruited post 1994. A subsequent interim arrangement for a continuance in service for Sergeants was also agreed.

The recommendations from a joint civil/military Department of Defence review of mandatory retirement ages in the Permanent Defence Force are being considered in an Inter-Departmental Working Group. The Department of Defence is a member of this Group, which was established to consider mandatory retirement ages and service limits for public service groups who have 'fast accrual' occupational pension arrangements. Options for interim measures pending the outcome of the work of this interdepartmental group are being considered.

Ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged and the Defence Forces are developing strategies to achieve increased recruitment and to address the current shortfall in numbers. My immediate focus is now on stabilising the staffing situation in the Defence Forces and thereafter in bringing the strength to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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599. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of trained paramedics in the Defence Forces; the age at which they must retire; the reason for this, given that paramedics in the Ambulance Service can serve until they are 66 years of age; the cost to the Defence Forces of losing these highly-trained staff at such an early age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13420/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authorities that there are currently 26 trained paramedics in the Defence Forces, comprising 18 Paramedics and 8 Advanced Paramedics.

Paramedics and advanced paramedics are enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces that have been trained in these skills during the course of their careers. Therefore, their retirement ages are determined by their rank and length of service in the organisation. Military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel can meet the challenges of all military operations. For this reason compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force are considerably lower than in other employments.

The retirement age for enlisted personnel engaged prior to 1994 is 60. For those enlisted to the Permanent Defence Force on or after 1 January 1994, the mandatory retirement age is 50 for privates, corporals, and sergeants, and 56 for other senior non-commissioned officers. In 2022, an interim arrangement was agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in respect of sergeants who would have been due to retire this year and next, to remain in service until end-2024.

The Public Service Pay Commission in their report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force in 2019, included in their recommendations, the need to consider options to tackle barriers to extended participation in the Permanent Defence Force. A joint civil/military review was subsequently completed in 2021. The Report of the Review Group made a number of recommendations for extended service limits across a number of ranks in the Defence Forces.

As current pension arrangements for personnel enlisted to the Permanent Defence Force on or after 1 January 1994, are based on date of entry to the Defence Forces, any proposals to amend the length of service requires the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, with regards to impacts on accrued pension liabilities.

The Department of for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform have established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to consider mandatory retirement ages and service limits for public service groups who have 'fast accrual' occupational pension arrangements. A number of meetings of this Working Group, of which the Department of Defence is a member, have taken place to date. The recommendations from the joint civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages of all ranks in the Permanent Defence Force are being considered as part of the work of this group.

Vacancies arising from the retirement of paramedics or advanced paramedics are filled, as appropriate, by individuals possessing the qualifications required to comply with the standards set by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC).

I can assure the Deputy that the recruitment and retention of trained medical personnel, as with other specialist areas within the Defence Forces, is a matter of priority.