Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
595. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the work of his Department to ensure that the agreed increases for An Post pensioners will go ahead as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6340/26]
View answer597. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the reason he has not approved the agreed An Post pay increases to pensioners in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6361/26]
View answer598. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he expects to sanction the agreed pay increases for the An Post pensioners in the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6362/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 595, 597 and 598 together.
Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for Culture, Communication and Sport with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes.
In accordance with the Act and the relevant Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, An Post must seek Ministerial approval from both Ministers to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. Section 2.13 of the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies Superannuation and Remuneration annex sets out that NewERA advice should be sought in respect of pension amendment proposals, as is appropriate in their role as commercial and financial advisors to the Ministers.
On 23 October 2025, An Post wrote to my Department requesting consent for an increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions, namely, to increase pensions in payment for members and deferred members of the An Post Superannuation Scheme by 6% per annum with effect from 1st January 2025 and 1% from 1 June 2025, arising from its agreements with employee representative groups. It is not possible, at this point, to set out the specific timeframe within which the decision-making process will be concluded by both shareholding Ministers in respect of increases submitted for consent. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place.
