Sir, – The recent regulations signed into law following the enactment of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation Act this year will see members of the Defence Forces, Prison Service and Fire Fighters able to retire at the aged of 62 and not at the age of 60 (“Firefighters, prison officers and military personnel can work for longer under new legislation”, News, August 19th).
Like An Garda Síochána, whose members can now seek extensions to their service, the Government in its attempt to maintain numbers in all departments, especially our front-line services, have pulled the oldest trick in the books.
Because of the retirement of those mentioned at the age of 60, and being unable to adequately resource and recruit enough people into those services to shore up the large gaps that have been created, it increased the age of retirement.
This move by the Government is sleight of hand and fools nobody.
While age brings maturity and experience, the fact is that those on the frontline of emergency services need to entice and encourage more younger people into those services, otherwise we could end up with a large troupe of elderly folk in situ unable to carry out the most difficult tasks expected of them.
As someone in his 60s would I have the same stamina as a person in their twenties or thirties? I think not.
The problem of recruitment and retention cannot be swept under the carpet by this or any other Government, and we need to make these services, which are of vital importance to this nation, more inviting to new entrants. – Yours, etc,
CHRISTY GALLIGAN,
(Retired Garda sergeant),
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.