Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
488. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the engagement that his Department has had with PDFORRA and RACO regarding their efforts to seek clarification on the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54721/22]
View answerThe Permanent Defence Force was not included in the review in relation to the retirement ages of Public Servants by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform carried out in 2017. It was agreed then with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the retirement age for members of the uniformed fast accrual group, which included members of the Permanent Defence Force along with the Garda, Firefighters and Prison Officers, was best dealt with at sectoral level. The detailed policy, operational and manpower issues relevant to these groups could be appropriately considered at that level.
Accordingly, the members of the uniformed fast accrual group, who are currently required to retire early due to the nature of their work, were not covered by the increase in compulsory retirement age from 65 to 70 for Public Servants recruited before 1 April 2004.
A Project arising from the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force was undertaken to examine the contracts of service and mandatory retirement ages for enlisted personnel.
In December 2021, agreement was secured with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which will allow for an extension in service limits for all Privates and Corporals to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.
Interim arrangements have also recently been secured, following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which will allow for Sergeants recruited after January 1st 1994, who are or would reach 50 years of age by the end of 2024, to continue to serve for a further two years to the end of 2024, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.
Other recommendations will be considered in the forum of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform-established Inter-Departmental Working Group, which is considering mandatory retirement ages for all public service groups with fast accrual pension arrangements.
A claim to increase the mandatory retirement age for all Officers was received from the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) under the Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The Deputy will appreciate that as discussions under the C&A Scheme are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on the matter at this time.
Correspondences outside of Conciliation Council has been received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) within the C&A Scheme, in relation to the mandatory retirement ages of Enlisted Personnel, which the Department of Defence has also engaged with.
