asked the Minister for Defence the retirement ages of the PDF non-professional ranks of commandant and lieutenant colonel; whether officers holding these ranks have served in excess of the normal retirement ages in the period 1978-1982; the number in each of these years; the reasons for this situation; and whether this practice is to continue.
Written Answers. - Army Officers' Retirement.
530.
The normal retiring ages for such officers of the rank of Commandant and Lieutenant-Colonel in the Permanent Defence Force are 56 years and 58 years respectively.
In 1974 as one of a number of urgent measures to conserve the numerical strength of the Permanent Defence Force, and in the context of a shortage of Junior Officers (below Commandant rank), a scheme was introduced whereby line Commandants and Captains may be retained in service beyond their normal retiring ages of 56 and 54 years respectively, up to 60 years of age. Commandants and Captains retained under this scheme fill administrative appointments appropriate to the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant respectively so that Junior Officers filling designated administrative appointments can be released for operational duties.
The position of line Lieutenants-Colonels was reviewed in 1976 against the background of a much expanded Permanent Defence Force and new operational requirements of the Defence Forces. As a result of this review a scheme to permit the retention in service beyond the normal retiring age of 58 years of Lieutenant-Colonel up to 60 years of age was introduced.
The number of officers in rank of Commandant and Lieutenant-Colonel who served or are serving beyond their normal retiring ages under the foregoing schemes during the period from 1978 to 1982 is as follows:
|
1978 |
1979 |
1980 |
1981 |
1982 |
|
|
Commandant |
33 |
17 |
19 |
12 |
9 |
|
Lieut-Colonel |
24 |
33 |
27 |
18 |
7 |
No change in the foregoing arrangements is contemplated in present circumstances.