Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The introduction of a total contributions approach, TCA, to establishing the level of entitlement for all new State pension (contributory) claims was signalled by the then Government in the national pensions framework in 2010. At that time it set a target date of 2020 for the implementation of TCA. More recently, the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 targeted implementation of TCA from the third quarter of 2020. This is subject to the necessary legislation being enacted and supporting structures being in place.

Consultation is a very important part of the development and design of any new pension system. With this in mind, I launched a public consultation on the design of TCA on 28 May 2018 to which a wide variety of stakeholder groups were invited to make submissions. A number of workshops were also held on the day to elicit views and feedback.

Shortly afterwards all Oireachtas Members were invited to a detailed briefing by my officials in Leinster House. The consultation was open for more than three months and the Department received almost 300 responses from individuals and organisations. Those submissions outlined the views of respondents on the issues of most interest to them.

Having carefully examined the outputs of the consultation process, my Department is now designing the scheme and I intend to bring a proposal to Cabinet shortly setting out that design. Once the Government has agreed the approach to be taken, I will initiate the work required to introduce this reform. At that stage the heads of the Bill will obviously go to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection for pre-legislative scrutiny. As soon as the legislation is drafted it will be brought to the House and I intend to do it later this year.

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