Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
20. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline his engagements with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in relation to the work of the Inter-Departmental Working Group relating to service limits for Commissioned Officers and senior Non-Commissioned Officer ranks; and if he intends to amend the mandatory retirement ages applicable to members of the Defence Forces. [22817/23]
View answerMilitary life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. For this reason compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force are considerably lower than in other employments.
A joint civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages and service limits in the Permanent Defence Force was completed in 2021. The Report of the Review Group made a number of recommendations for extended service limits across a number of ranks in the Defence Forces.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force have superannuation arrangements which allows them to accrue pension benefits over an accelerated shorter timeframe to compensate for the fact that they have to retire at a relatively early age. Any proposals to amend the service limits or retirement ages of members of the Defence Forces must be in accordance with public sector pay and pension policy and requires the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
The Department of for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to consider mandatory retirement ages and service limits for public service groups who have 'fast accrual' occupational pension arrangements. The recommendations from the joint civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages in the Permanent Defence Force are being considered as part of the work of this group.
Pending the outcome of the work of the Interdepartmental Group, an agreement was secured in December 2021, which allows for Privates and Corporals, who were recruited to the Permanent Defence Force on or after 1 January 1994, to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting established criteria including medical and fitness standards.
In October 2022, an interim arrangement was secured which allows for the continuance in service, to the end of 2024, of Sergeants who were recruited to the Permanent Defence Force on or after 1 January 1994, who were due to be retired on age grounds at age 50 prior to that date.
I recently secured a similar agreement to extend this interim arrangement to Privates and Corporals recruited on or after 1 January 1994.
There are clear staffing challenges across the Defence Forces. I have discussed this matter on a number of occasions with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and interim arrangements have been put in place to facilitate Privates, Corporals and Sergeants who wish to remain in service up to the end of 2024.
In relation to broader issue of mandatory retirement ages in the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence is continuing to participate on the Inter-Departmental Group established to consider mandatory retirement ages and service limits for public service groups who have 'fast accrual' occupational pension arrangements.
