Vol. 542 No. 2
395 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if a review of the fire service is under way; if the compulsory retirement age is one of the items under review; when he expects this review to be completed; and if, pending the outcome of this review, he will suspend any compulsory retirements on age grounds. [24278/01]
In June of this year my Department commissioned Farrell Grant Sparks Consulting to carry out a major review of fire safety and fire services in Ireland. The review will address the issue of difficulty of recruiting and retaining staff for the fire service, principally the retained service. I am expecting delivery of the consultants report to me by the end of next month.
As indicated in my replies to Questions No. 203 on 8 May 2001 and No. 338 on 15 May 2001, it would be inappropriate to change the current retirement arrangements pending the completion of the strategic review.
Question No. 396 answered with Question No. 374.
397 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the 55 year age limit for fire fighters came into force; if this age limit is applied across all local authorities; if not, the local authorities concerned; and the reasons for these exceptions. [24280/01]
Prior to 1985, various fire authorities operated different retirement ages, with some applying age 55 since the 1960s. In 1985, compulsory retirement at 55 years of age for retained fire service personnel was introduced at national level as a result of lengthy negotiation process engaged in by the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board representing local authority managers and the trade unions representing retained fire fighters.
Question No. 398 answered with Question No. 386.
