Defence Minister Micheál Martin and Irish Defence Forces chief of staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy. Photo: Niall Carson/PA
The mandatory retirement age for members of the Defence Forces, prison officers and fire fighters is increasing to 62 from today.
An increase in the mandatory retirement age for Gardaí will follow shortly.
The new regulations were signed by the Tánaiste and Defence Minister Micheál Martin, raising the retirement age from 60.
The Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA), which represents enlisted military members, has long called for an increase to the retirement age in an effort to retain valuable personnel.
The Tánaiste has said that the change for military members “reflects modern society” and allows members to remain in service longer if they want.
“It also facilitates the Defence Forces in their efforts to retain highly trained, skilled and experienced personnel,” Mr Martin said.
“Together with several other recruitment and retention initiatives – including the roll-out of private healthcare, increased allowances and ongoing investment in infrastructure – this measure is a significant step aimed at stabilising the number of serving personnel while we simultaneously work towards recruiting new people into an exciting and rewarding career in the Defence Forces.”
It is the second increase in retirement age this year for Defence Forces members, having only risen to 60 in March.
As part of a new policy framework, fast accrual pensions will also be facilitated until the age of 60.
The chief of staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy said: “I am delighted at today’s announcement by the Tánaiste that mandatory retirement ages for all members serving in the Defence Forces will be increased to 62 years of age.
“Our members are our greatest asset and are central to everything we do. This is why the increase of mandatory retirement ages for all ranks has been a priority for me as chief of staff.
“It will act as an important retention measure, providing security of tenure for our serving members and support the transformation of our Defence Forces.”
Public Expenditure Minister, Paschal Donohoe, said the move would “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,” Minister Donohoe said.
In March, Justice Minister Helen McEntee announced there are also plans to increase the retirement age for gardaí from 60 to 62, with the increase described as “cost-neutral” by the Department of Public Expenditure.
It is part of a long-running target to increase the number of full-time garda members to 15,000, with the maximum age of entry increased to 50 this year.