Vol. 559 No. 5
360 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is considering an extension of the retirement age for Garda Síochána; and the measures he intends to take to ensure manpower increases by 2,000 in the next five years, as promised. [26799/02]
The current position is that all ranks within the Garda Síochána up to chief superintendent are eligible for a pension if they have a minimum 30 years service and have reached the age of 50 years. Members of ranks up to and including inspector must retire at 57 years of age. Superintendents and chief superintendents must retire at 60 years of age, as must those of commissioner rank appointed after 1996. Assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners appointed before 1996 must retire at 65 years of age. The age differential was established some time ago and recognises that there are greater physical demands on gardaí in frontline operational policing roles.
The commission on public service pensions has recommended that the minimum retirement age for new entrants to the Garda Síochána should be raised from 50 to 55 years and that members should have the option of being retained to a maximum age of 60, rather than 57, subject to meeting minimum health and fitness standards. My objective is to have a fit, active and experienced force with an appropriate balance as regards the age profile. I am reviewing the retirement ages applicable to the Garda Síochána with this aim in mind.
The current authorised strength of the Garda Síochána is 12,200. As the current strength of the force has not yet reached this figure – it now stands at approximately 11,900 – my first priority is to bridge that gap by making maximum use next year of the existing capacity of the Garda Training College, bringing the strength of the force to its highest ever level. As long as the cap on public service numbers remains in place, it will not be possible to recruit sufficient additional trainees to progress further beyond the figure of 12,200.
