Retirement age for emergency services
Deputy Byrne proposed extending the retirement age further for fire, Garda and defence personnel who want to keep working. The Taoiseach said more people wanted longer careers, noted existing extensions to 62 and some further discretion, and said he was generally in favour.
I am sure the Taoiseach agrees with me that the men and women of our fire services, defence services and the Garda provide vital services to the State and to all our communities. In a welcome move two years ago, the retirement age for people in those services was increased from 60 to 62 years. I know from responses to parliamentary questions that 122 personnel in the Defence Forces and 112 gardaí have since remained in the force beyond the age of 60. Can we look at extending this further? It is a particular issue. I could not get the figures for the fire service, but this is being asked for in the fire service. If someone wants to work and can pass the tests that are required for their fitness to work, they should be able to continue to work. There is incredible institutional memory among these people. They can contribute in an enormous way. Is it possible for us to look, having done the extension from 60 to 62 in 2024,-----
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-----at allowing continuing past that age limit?
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is interesting that more and more people now want to continue their careers into their 60s. That is a positive story about lifespan. We are living more healthily with a better quality of life. As the Deputy is aware, the legislation allowed it to 62 years. He is ahead. He has all the detail. As he said, 112 gardaí have availed of the opportunity to continue working since the September 2024 increase to the mandatory age of retirement from 60 to 62. The Garda Commissioner may, with the Minister's consent, go beyond that age of 62 for retirement. To date, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has already consented to a number of such requests from the Commissioner and will continue to do so when requested. However, I will talk to the Minister. What the Deputy is saying is a good idea.
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For the fire services, we have had 629 new recruits since the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement of 2023, but-----