asked the Minister for the Public Service if he is prepared to let civil servants under 60 and with 40 years service retire, as they would be entitled to full pensions and it may increase the jobs available for younger people.
Written Answers. - Civil Service Pensions.
71.
The Civil Service superannuation code is designed to provide for officers who retire on grounds of age or ill-health. The compulsory retiring age for civil servants is normally 65 but they may retire with immediate pension from age 60, if they so wish. The conditions governing early voluntary retirement have, in fact, been made more attractive in recent years. For example, the qualifying service for maximum lump sum has been reduced from 45 to 40 years and pensions are now revised annually in line with current salaries. In addition, persons who resign before age 60 can, provided they have at least five years' service, have their accrued entitlement to pension and lump sum preserved and paid at age 60 on an uprated basis. Furthermore, the arrangements for the transfer of pensionable service, which are now being operated by a large number of public sector bodies, allow civil servants, subject to certain conditions, to reckon earlier service given in other areas of the public sector. Following these improvements, the number of civil servants retiring voluntarily before the compulsory retiring age has tended to increase. In view of these improvements and having regard to cost factors, no further measures to make early retirement more attractive are envisaged at present.