1683. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the mandatory retirement age in order to allow fit and willing firefighters to extend their service to 66 years-of-age; if he will examine the implementation of voluntary fitness-based assessments to ensure that capability, rather than an arbitrary age ceiling, is used in determining a firefighter's fitness for duty; and if he will ensure protection of pension structures in order that those who choose to serve longer are fairly recognised and not structurally penalised. [59578/26]

1733. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the mandatory retirement age of retained firefighters with a view to increasing it from 62 years to 66 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60654/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1683 and 1733 together.

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

Regarding the pension arrangements, in 2008, retained firefighters were given the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS), the pension scheme available at the time. This option remained open until January 2013, when the Single Public Service Pension Scheme was launched. Most firefighters chose not to join the pension scheme, instead opting to retain their non-contributory retirement gratuity. This gratuity is payable at the time they retire from the fire service and is calculated at 1/8 the retainer for every year of service, to a maximum of four times the retainer.