Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
342. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has conducted any assessment of the impact of raising the retirement age on workers in physically demanding occupations, such as construction, healthcare, and agriculture and if he will publish those findings. [53101/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no mandatory retirement age in Ireland. Retirement conditions set out in contracts of employment are a matter for the individual and their employers. The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 is currently progressing through the Oireachtas, led by my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. The Bill, once enacted, will allow, but in no way compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension Age (66). Questions relating to retirement ages as set out in employment contracts, should be directed to the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
In relation to increases to the State Pension Age, the previous Government established the Pensions Commission in November 2020 to examine eligibility and sustainability issues with State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, including the qualifying age. The Commission's Report, which was published on 7th October 2021, set out a range of recommendations for addressing the sustainability of the State Pension system including the gradual increase in the State Pension Age to 68 and increases in social insurance contribution rates.
In response to the Pensions Commission's recommendations, the then Government decided not to increase the State Pension Age but instead to fund the future sustainability of the State Pension system by implementing a series of gradual and incremental increases in PRSI rates for contributors. These increases total 0.7 percentage points between 2024 and 2028, with further increases to be considered, based on the most up-to-date data available from the next Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund.
As there are no plans to increase the State Pension Age and my Department has no role in regulating contractual retirement ages, an assessment in the terms set out by the Deputy has not been conducted.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
