The age at which a public servant may retire (minimum retirement age), and the age at which they must retire (compulsory retirement age), varies across public service groups and generally depends on date of recruitment to the public service. Retirement age terms are usually set out in legislation and/or in the rules of the public service pension scheme of which the public servant is a member.
Circular 03/2021: ‘Guidance on Minimum Pension Ages/Compulsory Retirement Ages in the Public Service’ provides information on minimum pension ages and compulsory retirement ages for public servants with standard accrual pension terms.
A public servant’s minimum retirement age is the earliest age at which they may retire and immediately draw down their pension benefits without actuarial reduction. The minimum pension age is also generally the same age that a former vested public servant may apply for their preserved pension benefits.
Public servants can generally continue to work after they reach their minimum pension age, and continue in that employment until they reach their compulsory retirement age.
A public servant’s compulsory retirement age, also known as a ‘mandatory retirement age’ or ‘upper retirement age’, is the age at which a public servant must retire. Once a public servant reaches their compulsory retirement age, they must retire from their public service employment and they are entitled to draw down their pension benefits.
An overview of the retirement ages for the three main cohorts of public servants with standard accrual terms is set out in the table below. This is for general information purposes only, is not exhaustive, and is not intended to be used in place of an assessment of the appropriate retirement age terms applicable to any individual public servant. The actual retirement ages applicable to an individual public servant will depend on their public service employment history, as well as the pension scheme rules and legislation applicable to them in their current public service employment.
Certain public servants are required to retire early for operational reasons, such as members of An Garda Síochána, prison officers, firefighters and members of the Permanent Defence Force.
Collectively, this group is sometimes referred to as the ‘uniformed fast accrual’ group. Pension schemes applicable to these public servants may include ‘uniform’ or ‘fast’ accrual terms, whereby members can accrue maximum benefits under the relevant pension scheme over a shorter period, compared to those in a pension scheme with standard accrual terms. The minimum pension age and compulsory retirement age for members of the uniformed fast accrual group are usually lower than for standard public servants.
Increase to mandatory retirement ages for the ‘uniformed fast accrual’ groups
In 2023, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to examine fast accrual pension terms in the context of requests to increase the mandatory retirement ages for the ‘uniformed fast accrual’ group.
On foot of this analysis, a policy framework on fast accrual pension terms was established and is detailed in the March 2024 Report on Fast Accrual & Mandatory Retirement Age Policy for Uniformed Public Service Employees.
This policy framework seeks to strike a balance between (1) cost and sustainability, (2) operational need, (3) equity between cohorts across all uniformed grades/ranks, and (4) equity between fast accrual and standard accrual grades.
In summary, the framework provides that where the mandatory retirement age for any members of the ‘uniformed fast accrual’ group is increased to an age above age 60, ‘fast accrual’ pension terms will continue to age 60 only. Where a member of this cohort continues in employment beyond age 60, their pension accrual will change to a standard accrual basis from age 60 until their retirement.
Changes to the mandatory retirement ages for such persons is generally a matter for the relevant line Minister.
A public servant who is unsure of their minimum pension age or compulsory retirement age should contact the HR section of their employer for clarification.
- Circular 03/2021: Guidance on Minimum Pension Ages/Compulsory Retirement Ages in the Public Service.
- Civil Service Regulation Act 1956
- Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004
- Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012
- Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018
- Report on Fast Accrual and Mandatory Retirement Age Policy for Uniformed Public Service Employee
