Universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 and have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy, and are not under the direct control of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
With regards to the retirement age of Higher Education employees, the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 was enacted on 26 December 2018 and came into effect immediately from that date. The Act provides for an increase in the compulsory retirement age of most standard public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004 to age 70. Universities are obliged to comply with employment legislation, including pension related legislation.