Up to 120 Kerry gardaí could retire from the force in the next three years.
Figures show that 120 members of An Garda Síochána in Kerry become eligible to retire by the end of 2028.
The Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, has said however that some gardaí work well beyond the point at which they become eligible to retire.
Once a garda member has completed 30 years of service, they may opt to retire on full pension at age 50 if they joined the service before 1 April 2004, or at age 55 if they joined on or after that date.
Figures provided by the Minister for Justice show 16 Kerry gardaí become eligible to retire this year.
A further 25 gardaí in the Kerry Garda Division become eligible to retire in 2026, with another 32 in 2027, while 47 more gardaí in Kerry become eligible to retire in 2028.
That means the Kerry Garda Division could lose up to 120 gardaí to retirement by the end of 2028.
However, Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that, of course, does not mean that this number will retire over the next five years, only that they will be eligible to do so.
Minister O’Callaghan said a garda member may have 30 years of service at age 55, but may opt not to retire for the next seven years until they reach the mandatory retirement of 62.
He said it should be noted that it is the practice for some gardaí to work well beyond the point at which they become eligible for retirement, and for some, even beyond the age of mandatory retirement.
The Garda Commissioner, with the Minister’s consent, can allow any garda member to do extend their service beyond age 62, when it is in the interests of the efficiency of An Garda Síochána due to special qualifications or experience they have.
In 2023, a record-488 gardaí either retired or resigned from the force.
The figures were provided in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, Peter 'Chap' Cleere.
