Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2026
68. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation when he will issue a final determination in respect of An Post pensioners’ IDRP submissions before his Department; the reason for the delay beyond the standard three month response period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40761/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra69. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the expected timeline for conclusion of outstanding An Post pension disputes referred through the IDRP process; when pensioners can expect a formal outcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40763/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra70. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department is adhering to Ombudsman guidance on timelines for pension dispute resolution; and if delays such as the An Post pension scheme case are being reviewed. [40767/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 69 and 70 together.
I propose to take PQs 40761/26, 40763/26 and 40767/26 together.
The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (the FSPO) generally require individuals with complaints in respect of their pension to give a reasonable opportunity to their pension provider to deal with the matter raised under the relevant IDR process before the FSPO accepts their case. A specific timeframe for this is not defined.
Circular 16/2020 ‘Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) procedure for pension appeals in relation to beneficiaries/disputed beneficiaries of pre-existing civil service pension schemes and of certain public service pre-existing pension schemes’ applies in the case of pre-existing public service pension scheme disputes in
(i) civil service; and
(ii) public service, where I as Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation have a role in making the appeal determination.
While Circular 16/2020 does not specify that it applies to pension schemes in Commercial Semi-State Bodies such as An Post, in practice my department requires that Circular 16/2020 is applied where such scheme rules provide for a right to appeal to me as Minister.
Circular 16/2020 specifies indicative timelines for both Stage 1 and 2 of the IDR/appeal process set out in that circular (in respect of decisions to be made, submission of documents and issuing of a determination). These time limits are not statutory, and it is understood that it is not possible to meet these timelines in all cases.
Further, an appeal cannot be considered until all documentation required to assess the matter being raised has been received. In such cases, my department engages with the parent department who submitted the appeal, in order to obtain the necessary documentation to progress that appeal. The indicative timeline of three months under Circular 16/2020 for a Notice of Determination to issue in respect of Stage 2 appeals as set out under Circular 16/2020 does not begin until all necessary documentation has been received.
In order to provide fair and due process to all individuals who submit an appeal under Circular 16/2020, where practicable, pension appeal cases are progressed in chronological order.
While multiple appeal cases are under consideration at the same time, the time for completion for each case varies. For example, where there is significant complexity involved, a need to collate a large volume of documentation, documentation which dates back over a number of years/decades, or a need to consult with multiple different parties a Notice of Determination in respect of one appeal may issue prior to another appeal received at any earlier date.
The above is the case in relation to a number of pension appeals received in respect of An Post, with An Post appeals submitted to my department by Department of Culture, Communications and Sport being received on various dates and with varying levels of complexity.
There are several An Post appeal cases which are under consideration and Notices of Determinations will issue in respect of these in as soon a timeframe as possible. I can assure the deputy that every effort is made to progress appeals in as quick a time as possible.
