Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
709. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the State agencies within his Department that have made provision for the pension auto-enrolment payment as part of their allocation to funded organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14416/26]
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 access to a quality assured retirement savings scheme, thereby giving greater comfort and security regarding their retirement income.
The new system - known as MyFutureFund - commenced on the 1 January 2026. Over 763,000 employees that weren't actively contributing to a qualifying pension or PRSA through payroll were eligible and were automatically enrolled in MyFutureFund.
The State agencies under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board (CIB), the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council, the Social Welfare Tribunal and National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA).
The Pensions Authority, Pensions Council, Social Welfare Tribunal and NAERSA do not fund any organisations and on that basis, no provision for pension auto enrolment payments as part of their allocation to funded organisations has been required.
The CIB does provide funding to organisations. However the CIB funded organisations provide an occupational pension scheme to their employees which exempts those employees from participation in MyFutureFund and on that basis, no provision for pension auto enrolment payments has been required.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
