John Halligan
Question:97. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale behind imposing an obligation on local government employees to retire at the age of 65 without the option of working on until they reach the pensionable age of 66; his views that it is an extraordinary situation where these people are being forced to retire, leaving an already stretched local government with an even greater staffing shortage as under the moratorium these positions will not be filled while at the same time adding additional obligations onto the Department of Social Protection as these people will be forced to make applications for jobseeker's allowance; if he will commit to looking into the possibility of permitting those affected to extend their service up to the age of 66 and allow them to make a valid contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51152/13]
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