As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently approved increasing the mandatory retirement age to 62 years of age in a number of the uniform services, including in An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service. This increased mandatory retirement age will need to be facilitated by amendments to the relevant primary legislation and by related secondary legislation.
The required changes are to be brought forward by my Department.
The Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 contains the relevant amendments to primary legislation, and it is intended that this legislation will be in place before the summer recess.
Once enacted, secondary legislation will be required to operationalise the new policy. The relevant secondary legislation pertaining to prison officers is currently being prepared by the Department of Justice.