Laois prison officer dismay at retirement age change
Earlier retirement age due to 'traumatic events' at work
The addition of up to six years onto the mandatory retirement age of prison officers serving at jails in Laois and elsewhere has come in for share criticism from their main trade union.
The Prison Officers’ Association has issued a joint statement of the representatives of firefighters and those in the Defence Forces in response to a potential new retirement age of 66.
General Secretary, Karl Dalton, spoke on behalf of his members.
“The proposed legislation would allow a Minister for Justice to increase the pension age of prison officers from 60 to 66 without any consultation with those impacted. Like our colleagues throughout the uniformed services, the traumatic events prison officers have to deal with during their career and the impact this has on their health is the reason for the current retirement age of 60.
“We have sought to meet the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, to no avail. This proposed change without prior consultation with the representative bodies is unacceptable,” he said in statement.
Mr Dalton told the Leinster Express Laois Live that the Bill that the Government is trying to push through states that the Minister for Justice, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, make regulations on the retirement of prison officers. He says it makes clear that the the normal retirement age, which at present is 66, could be fixed that new mandatory retirement age.
While Mr Daltion said the change to 60 to 62 is not a major issue, he said prison officers can currently retire at 55 and must retire at 60 but the new laws can make both rules redundant.
"It is giving them unfettered powers into the future- this is a huge issue for trade unions," he said.
He said the law could potentially see the mandatory retirement age of prison officers extended beyond 66 if Government decided that the standard retirement age should change.
He said the change would also impact the pensions paid to more recently recruited prison officers who are not entitled to a so-called supplementary pension.
Mr Dalton said there was 'absolutely no consultation' on a bill that gives far-reaching powers.
Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) Deputy Secretary General, Derek Priestley also commented as the new retirement rules in the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 were brought before the Dáil on July 2.
"As it stands the Bill will only further deteriorate terms and conditions for members and further negatively impact on recruitment and retention in the defence, prison, policing and fire services.”
“It does nothing to solve the problem for workers who joined these services after 2013 facing serious financial hardship in the first years of their retirement. This is due to their fast accrual pension schemes making insufficient allowance for their contractual earlier retirement ages,” he said.
SIPTU Organiser, Geoff McEvoy, said: “The Bill, in its current form, creates a real uncertainty and fear that the retirement age will be further increased for new entrants, effectively ending fast accrual for them. This will worsen the retention and recruitment crisis in these essential frontline services, likely weakening them beyond repair.”
“We urge the government to reconsider this Bill and engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders to develop a solution that is fair and sustainable for all,” he said.
The Department of Justice said the Bill would provide for an increase in the mandatory retirement for uniformed public servants, including Gardaí, from 60 to 62 years of age.
“I am pleased to have secured Government approval to legislate for an increase in the mandatory retirement age for uniformed public servants, including members of An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service. This decision reflects the reality that people are living longer, and many want to continue working in their chosen career for longer,” said Minister McEntee.
Her Department said the Bill will facilitate an increase in the mandatory retirement age for uniformed public servants from 60 to 62 years, within the context of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform’s fast accrual pensions policy