Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
288. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the proposed increase in pensions for retired and deferred employees of EirGrid that is awaiting Ministerial approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29281/26]
View answer289. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding a timeline for the decision in relation to the proposed increase in pensions for retired and deferred employees of EirGrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29282/26]
View answer290. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the actions he will take to ensure that deferred employees of EirGrid (details supplied) are given fair consideration under the review of their pension scheme by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29283/26]
View answer292. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has received a proposal from an organisation (details supplied) regarding pension increases; and if so, to provide an update on their considerations of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29495/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288, 289, 290 and 292 together.
EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department, established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department, however any proposed increases to its Defined Benefit Pension Fund require approval from myself and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (MPER).
My Department received three requests to apply increases to payments under the EirGrid Defined Benefit Pension Fund, relating to the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. The first request received in November 2023 for 2023, has now been approved.
The remaining two requests, received in 2025 in relation to proposed increases for retired and deferred pensioners applicable in 2024 and 2025 are currently being progressed and are the subject of pending legal advice. Once received, submissions relating to these requests will be prioritised by my officials for my consideration.
There has been significant engagement with EirGrid over the last two years in relation to all three proposed increase requests and I can understand the concern of EirGrid’s pensioners while awaiting the outcome of deliberations. It is however important that my officials ensure that all governance and legal procedures are robust, prior to approval of the current requests and any future requests.
