In welcoming the Minister of State to the House, I would like to express my concern at the end of the year many neighbourhoods throughout the country will miss the familiar face of the Garda unless the Minister for Justice takes action. Gardaí are compelled to retire at the early age of 57. I call on the Minister to introduce a uniform retirement age for all members of the Garda Síochána and I suggest that he should set it, permanently, at 60. Such a proposal is being considered by the Garda Conciliation Council but, unfortunately, no progress has been made.
The Minister for Justice has made provision for a temporary extension in the case of members due to retire up to 31 December 1992. Therefore, a member who will reach the age of 57 on 31 December 1992 will have the option of remaining on as a serving member for three additional years until he reaches his 60th birthday. On the other hand, if his birthday falls on 1 January 1993 he will be unable to avail of this provision. Because the Minister has not made a positive decision to extend the retirement option, gardaí have been left in a vacuum. I strongly urge the Minister to make provision for a further extension.
It is unfair that gardaí due to retire shortly do not know whether they will be able to avail of this provision and because of this they are not in a position to plan their futures. Many of them would like to remain on as serving members of An Garda Síochána until they reach the age of 60, but they may not be able to avail of that option. Neither do they know if they will have to consider other careers. It must be accepted that people are too young to retire at 57. These men, who are both active and experienced, and who can give years of service to the community, will be thrown on the scrap heap because of the arbitrary rule unless the Minister takes the action I am asking for.
Member of the senior ranks are allowed to serve until they reach the age of 65, while the crime fighters on the streets will be forced to retire at 57, despite the fact that the Minister has said that he wants more gardaí on the street. If we were to extend the retirement age we would allow many of these useful and experienced members to remain at the forefront in the fight against crime. During 1993, 136 gardaí, along with 103 sergeants and 17 inspectors, making a total of 256, are due to retire on age grounds. Fourteen superintendents and six chief superintendents are also due to retire and this brings the total to 276. However, when we take into account the number of members who will opt for early retirement or who will leave the force for one reason or another, the total for 1993 will be in the region of 300 or more. The question that must be asked, therefore, is whether this figure will be matched by the number of recruits. When one takes into account our UN involvement, the manpower available will be greatly reduced.
A very good case can be made in favour of retaining these members on financial grounds. They are at the top of their respective pay scales, but when one takes PRSI and income tax into account they are working for approximately half their salary. If they retire they will be paid a pension equal to half the retirement rate, which is approximately the equivalent of their present take-home pay. They will also have to be paid their gratuity. When we take into account the use to which this considerable amount of money could be put by the Government over a three year period and the fact that these members wil be paid a salary equal to their pension, there would a net saving to the State.
As I have said, these men have long experience and expertise which they have accumulated over the years. Indeed, they themselves believed up until now that they would be able to avail of this provision. The Minister, as a good employer, has in the past made provision for a further extension until 31 December 1992 to ensure that a proper police service is available to the community. A decision should be made to set the retirement age at 60 for the sake of the community, for the gardaí themselves who are anxious to have this option, and the sake of the State, given that there is no saving to be made.
