Prison officers in Laois working in Portlaoise jails 'betrayed' over pensions

Prison Officers joined with Gardaí, members of the Defence Forces, and firefighters have demanded that the Government resolve what they say is a pension "injustice" which it's claimed will result in many lacking adequate financial support during retirement.

More than 100 uniformed members of each group gathered at a rally in Dublin on Tuesday, January 26 to call for immediate action.

A joint statement issued by SIPTU to the Leinster Express / Laois Live said that the rally heard of the financial hardship faced by personnel who retire after years of dedicated service from members of the unions involved in the Secure Our Future campaign, which includes SIPTU, the Garda Representative Association, Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Association of Garda Superintendents, Fórsa, the Prison Officers Association and the Defence Forces representative bodies PDFORRA and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO).

Karl Dalton, of the POA, spoke on behalf of prison officers in Portlaoise and other jails.

“We have united with our colleagues across the Uniformed Services in the Secure Our Future campaign. These workers give everything they have during their working lives in highly stressful roles assisting the community, which studies have shown leads to an increased likelihood of disability or illness. That we are now asking young people to join these services without any security for their retirement,” he said.

Garda Representative Association (GRA) General Secretary, Ronan Slevin, said young recruits are the worst impacted.

“Younger members of the Uniformed Services, including Firefighters, An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Prison Service, who were recruited after 2013, feel betrayed by the Government due to its failure to honour commitments on pension reform. READ MORE BELOW.

“The current structure of the pension scheme means that those who joined since 2013 are expected to subsist on a vastly reduced income for the first years of their retirement, before they become eligible for their full pensions at 66 years of age,” he said.

Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) General Secretary, Conor King, also commented.

“The reason that the supplementary pension was brought in for the Uniformed Services is because of the onerous nature of their roles, which include night work, robust operations, overseas service, work at sea and in the air. This work naturally reduces the years you can be in the service and that is why you must retire early.

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“The Government’s one-size-fits-all approach to pension provision means they are not serious about operational capacity across all four Uniformed Services. That impacts on these critical services and on State security,” he said.

SIPTU Organiser, Geoff McEvoy, said Fianna Fáil made commitments to Firefighters in the last election that this issue would receive their attention and be resolved.

"Our members feel betrayed but are hopeful that the new Minister can provide clarity and reassurance on the new Government’s position,” he said.