From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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Move will enhance options available to uniformed services members while retaining valuable expertise
The Minister for Public Expenditure, NPD Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe has today commenced the relevant Part 11 provisions of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 to facilitate an increase in the mandatory retirement age for firefighters, Prison Officers and members of the Permanent Defence Forces, to 62 years of age, for those who choose to avail of it.
The provisions to facilitate an increased mandatory retirement age for Gardaí will follow shortly, and in the meantime existing retention arrangements in An Garda Síochána will continue to apply, ensuring that those who may reach retirement age in the interim period will be able to benefit from these changes once they are commenced.
Part 11 of the Act implements changes that were previously agreed by Government to facilitate an increase in the mandatory retirement age for uniformed public servants to 62 years, within the context of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform’s fast accrual pension policy framework.
Under this framework, fast accrual pension terms will be facilitated until age 60. If an individual remains in employment beyond that age, their pension accrual reverts to a standard basis from that point until their retirement.
Minister Donohoe said:
"The changes proposed by the respective line Ministers, which have been facilitated by my Department, will allow members of the uniformed public services, who perform such a vital role in our communities, to remain in service for longer if they choose to do so. Furthermore, it will assist in retaining valuable expertise.
With people living longer and healthier lives, it is timely and appropriate to introduce these measures and to give people the opportunity to work longer if they so choose. I fully support this increase in the mandatory retirement age within our uniformed public services and look forward to seeing the difference it makes to people’s lives.”
ENDS