Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
518. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the financial supports which are in place for the drug and alcohol task forces in relation to the implementation of the pension auto-enrolment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5153/26]
View answerAuto-enrolment is a universal pension scheme designed to benefit all workers, regardless of sector. Staff in Section 39 funded organisations, including drug task forces, will gain access to enhanced retirement savings, supported by employer and State contributions. This is a positive step for fairness and long-term security.
Section 39 organisations are voluntary and not-for-profit bodies funded by the HSE to deliver essential health and social care services. Staff in Section 39 funded organisations are not public servants but are critical to service delivery in areas such as drugs services and inclusion health.
Many staff of voluntary bodies funded by the HSE under Section 39 are already part of occupational pension schemes or have in place a personal pension via payroll deductions. Auto-enrolment will not apply to those staff.
Auto-enrolment only covers employees who are not already members of an occupational or personal pension via payroll deductions.
The Department recognises that auto-enrolment will have cost implications for Section 39 funded organisations. In negotiating funding allocations with these organisations, the HSE will consider the impact of auto-enrolment costs to ensure services remain sustainable and staff are supported.
The HSE has informed the Department that it will be gathering data from the Section 39 sector it funds over the coming months to establish what level of staff the auto-enrolment will apply to. This exercise will enable an assessment of the likely scale/materiality of any cost of the auto-enrolment scheme for HSE funded Section 39 employers.
I have been assured that this assessment will inform consideration of any funding issues and how best to address same.
I believe that the rollout of the auto-enrolment pension scheme will strengthen retirement security for workers across all sectors, including drug services and inclusion health.
