Vol. 407 No. 3
166 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice if he proposes to extend the age of retirement in the Garda Force to 60 in order to avoid the loss of up to 500 members of the force through retirement over the next number of years which would result in the strength of the force falling to dangerous levels.
There is already provision for an extension of the compulsory retirement age from 57 years to 60 years of age in the case of members of the Garda, sergeant and inspector ranks who were/are due to retire in the period 19 November 1989 to 31 December 1991. This extension will have the effect of maintaining Garda numbers pending the appointment to the Force of the remainder of the 1,000 trainee gardaí currently being recruited.
