Vol. 574 No. 1
247 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance his plans to abolish for new entrants, the option for prison staff to retire between the ages of 50 and 55 on achieving 30 years' service in view of the particular stress associated with the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26210/03]
The issue of retirement age and early retirement was examined by the Commission on Public Service Pensions and, as the Deputy is aware, the commission made a number of proposals in this regard in relation to prison officers and others in the public service. The Government accepted the commission's report in principle in September 2001. The Government also decided to establish a joint working group with the public services committee of ICTU to examine and report on the implementation of the commission's recommendations. The working group has now reported. At present I am considering the recommendations of the pensions commission and the report of the working group with a view to drawing up proposals for implementation of appropriate pension reforms.
