Mandatory retirement age for gardai, Defence Forces and prison officers raised

The mandatory retirement age for gardai, the Defence Forces and prison officers has been increased in a bid to address staffing issues.

The Government has increased the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 62.

The maximum recruitment age will also rise from 29 to 39 for the Defence Forces.

The announcement was made by Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The move will include all permanent members of the Defence Forces that currently have a mandatory retirement age of 60.

Mr Martin said: “The fact is that we are facing a major recruitment and retention challenge. A large part of that is down to the fact that our very strong economy is providing many more options for potential recruits.

“But there are more things that we could be doing internally to improve the offer, and also make it more attractive for people to stay.

“We’ve already implemented a number of measures under the building momentum agreement. Recruits on completion of training would start at 38,016 euro in year one rising to 40,700 euros in year three.

“A school leaver cadet on commissioning as an officer is paid 41,962. After two years, they’re promoted and their pay rises to 47,245.”

Ms McEntee said: “The increase in the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 62 for members of An Garda Siochana, but also the prison service will be a very welcome change to support the work of those in our justice sector.

“It will help us to retain the skills, the knowledge, the expertise that we know exists and there is a demand for this.

“In the last three years alone, at the request of the Garda Commissioner, I have extended the working age for 150 members.

“What we’re doing here is putting into practice what is happening on the ground, and it reflects the situation that we find ourselves in, it reflects the fact that people want to stay on in their chosen career for longer.

“Crucially, though, this is one of a number of measures that I am taking to support the recruitment and retention of An Garda Siochana.”

Mr Donohoe said he will amend the relevant pension legislation.

“We have a fast accrual pension scheme in place that delivers pension certainty to those public servants,” he added.

“These terms allow individuals to accrue maximum benefits quicker, typically in 30 years versus 40 years in standard accrual grades.

“My department concluded that fast accrual schemes are expensive, because benefits are accrued at a faster rate and typically paid out over a longer duration and that also retaining fast accrual schemes beyond the age of 60 could raise significant equity concerns, given that the average age of retirement for a standard accrual grade in the public service is now 61.

“So the policy framework that we have now adopted sets out that beyond the age of 60, if an individual remains in employment, their pension accruals reverts from a faster accrual scheme to the standard scheme.”

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Sean Clancy welcomed the announcement.

“The women and men of Oglaigh na hEireann are our organisation’s greatest asset and central to everything we do,” he said.

“This is why the increase of mandatory retirement ages for all ranks and the security of tenure it provides has been an absolute priority for me as Chief of Staff and for the wider Defence Forces Board.”