Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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611. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to a 2021 circular which allowed public sector staff to work until 70 years of age, if a fire service station officer, who will turn 65 in 2025, can continue working until 70, or if they must retire after 40 years’ service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45132/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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With the agreement of Government, the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, prepared legislation to give effect to changes in the retirement age for members of the uniformed services. The provisions, which amend the relevant legislation to give effect to this Government decision, were included in Part 11 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, which was enacted this summer.

In the Local Government Act 2001 (Retirement of Firefighters) Regulations 2024, I increased the mandatory retirement age to 62 for both the full-time and the retained fire services. There is no change to the minimum retirement age of 55. These changes took effect from 19 August, 2024, and my Department wrote to all local authorities notifying them of these changes.

That circular also included clarity on the position relating to Fire Brigade Officers whose minimum and mandatory retirement ages remain aligned with those generally applicable in the public service. These are provided for separately as set out below, with no change to the minimum retirement age for Fire Brigade Officers.

Mandatory Retirement Ages for Fire Brigade Officers:

1. Non-new entrant officers who, under the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 (S.I No. 455 of 1998), have a minimum retirement age of 55 years, and under section 3 of the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 have a mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
2. New entrant officers who, under Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 have a minimum retirement age of 65 years, and no mandatory retirement age.
3. Single scheme officers who, under Public Services (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, have a minimum retirement age of 66 years, or when they qualify for the contributory state pension and under section 3 of the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018, have a mandatory retirement age of 70 years.