1692. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on plans to raise the retirement age further for retained firefighters. [56599/26]

In 2024, the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 was enacted. This Act amended, among other matters, the law in relation to the age at which certain public servants are required to retire. Part 11 of the Act provided the then Minister for Public Expenditure National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (M/PENDR), to make orders, enabling line ministers – Justice, Defence, and Housing – to make regulations regarding the retirement age of uniformed services. My predecessor made these regulations in August 2024, with the consent of then M/PENDR, raising the mandatory retirement age to 62.

Given this was addressed less than two years ago, in consultation with fire service staff representative organisations, there are no plans to revisit this matter presently.