Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), John Brady, has called on government to introduce an immediate interim measure to prevent highly qualified members of the retained fire service from being forced into mandatory retirement at the age of 62, while also putting in place a permanent measure extending the retirement age in line with the State pension age of 66.
The call follows a meeting between Deputy Brady, serving retained firefighters, and SIPTU representatives, where serious concerns were raised about the impact compulsory retirements will have on already critically understaffed fire stations across the state.
Teachta Brady said:
“The concerns raised at today’s meeting by retained firefighters and SIPTU representatives are extremely serious and require immediate government attention.
“Retained firefighters have already endured years of uncertainty, poor conditions, and chronic understaffing.
“We witnessed in 2023 how the recruitment and retention crisis escalated to the point of strike action, with firefighters left feeling they had no alternative but to take industrial action in order to have their voices heard.
“Despite repeated promises from government, the reality is that the recruitment campaign launched to attract new members into the service has simply not had the desired impact.
“Stations across the state continue to struggle to recruit and retain firefighters, and staffing levels remain dangerously low in many areas.
“Against this backdrop, it is absolutely unbelievable that long-serving retained firefighters, many with decades of invaluable operational experience, are facing mandatory retirement at 62, despite being fully capable of continuing in their roles.
“There is already an annual medical assessment process in place to ensure firefighters are medically fit to continue serving.
“This is an immediate issue that requires immediate government action, as numerous firefighters face retirement in the days and weeks ahead.
“The government must now introduce an immediate interim measure to prevent experienced retained firefighters from being forced out of the service while the wider recruitment and retention crisis remains unresolved.
“However, an interim arrangement alone is not enough.
“Government must also move to put in place a permanent measure extending the retirement age for retained firefighters in line with the State pension age of 66.
“It is completely unacceptable that highly trained and experienced firefighters are being forced to retire against their will at 62, only to find themselves having to sign on for unemployment benefits for four years before qualifying for the State pension.
“That situation makes absolutely no sense from any perspective.
“If members of the retained fire service are forced into retirement it would represent a devastating loss of experience and expertise within the service, risk pushing stations below safe minimum staffing levels and could force some stations to close.
“This is not simply an issue of fair treatment for those who have given years of service to their community, this is also a fundamental issue of public safety.
“The government cannot continue to ignore the reality facing the retained fire service.
“Immediate action is required to introduce an interim measure that prevents experienced retained firefighters from being lost from the service, while a permanent solution is progressed to allow retained firefighters remain in service to the State pension age of 66.”
ENDS
