Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
714. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection whether State and employer contributions towards the My Future Fund pension savings scheme will be reckonable as income for the purposes of determining eligibility for any other public services or schemes. [63244/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income. The new system - to be known as My Future Fund - will commence from 1st January 2026.
The Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations (2007) currently provide for a disregard of contributions to occupational pension schemes, statutory public sector pension schemes, PRSAs and additional voluntary contributions in the means assessment for a range of DSP income support schemes. Similarly, Section 227 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act (2005) (as amended) provides for the same disregard for the Working Family Payment while Part 4 of Schedule 3 of the Act set out the rules as to the calculation of means in respect of Rent Supplement.
It is envisaged that My Future Fund contributions will be disregarded in the same manner and they will not be assessed in determining eligibility for the schemes my Department provides. To this end, amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act are being brought forward at Committee Stage for the Social Welfare and Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System (Amendment) Bill 2025 so as to provide a disregard for AE contributions in respect of Rent Supplement and Working Family Payment. In the case of the other means tested social welfare schemes, these disregard of contributions are made in regulations and the parallel treatment for AE contributions will be provided for through amendments to the secondary legislation that underpin these rules.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
