Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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412. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the consideration he has given to extending the retirement age for retained firefighters; if those already approaching retirement will be issued with a stay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19240/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Following the Government’s recent approval of an increase in the mandatory retirement age for certain members of the uniformed services, I committed to examining a similar extension to the mandatory retirement age for all fire fighters with a view to providing consistency across the uniformed services.

On 12 April, I was pleased to announce that I have now secured approval for this change for both full-time and retained firefighters up to the age of 62, details of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/eea5a-mandatory-retirement-age-for-full-time-and-retained-firefighters-to-rise-to-62/.

This change will require legislative amendments to be brought forward by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and consideration of any transitional arrangements as appropriate within the existing legislative framework.

It is expected that the necessary legislative provisions can be enacted before the Dáil summer recess and the issue of transitional arrangements is currently under consideration.

The extension of the mandatory retirement age for firefighters is the latest in a number of initiatives aimed at improving retention and recruitment within the retained fire services. Local authorities are implementing WRC recommendations that will see an increase in retained firefighter numbers, structured time off, flexibility to attend calls and guaranteed fixed minimum earnings.