Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
761. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the annual input to Cabinet which sets out the rate of pension payment calculated using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34902/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund in light of the projected demographic changes. The Commission's Report, which was published in October 2021, took account of analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections and set out recommendations to address the sustainability of the State pension system.
In response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions, a series of reforms to the State Pension system were announced in September 2022. The Government decided that the Minister for Social Protection would, in submitting budget options, set out a rate for State Pension payments calculated using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach as an input for consideration as part of Budget discussions, on an annual basis, starting from September 2023.
Since then, this calculation has been prepared and submitted annually to Government as part of preparations for the Budget, most recently in September 2025, for Budget 2026. The smoothed earnings calculation will be submitted for consideration of Government as part of the preparations for Budget 2027.
