Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 May 2017
162. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to extend participation in the public service up to and including the current and planned age of entitlement to the contributory State pension; if primary legislation is required for a change in the compulsory retirement age for public servants; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25123/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by my Department, was established early in 2016 to examine the issues arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors, in the context of the current age of entitlement to the State Pension and the scheduled increases to the State Pension age in 2021 and 2028.
The Group, whose Report was agreed by Government last August, considered policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors, examining implications arising from retirement ages now and in the future. The Group identified a set of framework principles to underpin policy in the area and made a number of recommendations assigned to Government Departments and Employer bodies for follow-up in that regard. A copy of the Report is available online at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/report-of-the-interdepartmental-group-on-fuller-working-lives/.
On foot of one of the recommendations of the Report, my Department, with Public Service employers, was tasked to review the current statutory and operational considerations giving rise to barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce up to and including the current age of entitlement to the Contributory State Pension. This review is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the current quarter. Future policy in this area will be considered by Government following the outcome of the review.
Any change to the compulsory retirement ages for public servants will require primary legislation.
