Fire Service
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-14
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and providing me with the opportunity to address it on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins.
The current mandatory retirement age of firefighters is 62, which was raised from 58 in 2024. It is the same for all uniformed services, including the Irish Prison Service, An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. A firefighter may retire upon attaining the minimum age of 55 years. If a firefighter wishes to serve beyond that age, the fire authority that employs them must satisfy themselves as to their medical fitness, having undergone the appropriate medical assessment. The firefighter may continue to serve while undergoing annual fitness tests but must retire on or before turning 62.
In 2024, the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act amended the law in relation to the age at which certain public servants were required to retire. Part 11 of the Act provided that the then Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform could make orders enabling line Ministers - justice, defence and housing - to make regulations regarding the retirement age of uniformed services.
Regulations were made in August 2024, with the consent of then Minister for public expenditure, raising the mandatory retirement age to 62. The provision of fire services in a local authority's functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needed and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters, and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Engagement with staff-side associations, including on the mandatory retirement age and medical assessments, is a matter for each local authority as employer. The Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, will act on the local authority's behalf in industrial relations matters in the normal way. Following a Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement with retained firefighters in September 2023, approximately 630 new recruits have entered service as fire authorities implement the mandated minimum crew number of 12 in each fire station. This is in support of the revised model of service provision rostering week on, week flexibility and four weeks paid annual leave.
I note that the recently enacted but not yet commenced Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 does not apply to an employee whose employment is subject to the maximum retirement age required by law, at which the employee is obliged to retire or be retired. Therefore, this Act excludes firefighters and other uniformed services.
Given that this matter was addressed less than two years ago in consultation with staff representative bodies, the Department of housing has no plans to revisit this.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:56+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-14