Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Cummins, I welcome the sports capital and equipment grants and advise clubs and community groups to avail of the opportunity to apply for them.

I will raise the issue of occupational pensions this morning and how they have fallen far below the State pension. Occupational pensions, for example with An Post, Coillte, the Irish Aviation Authority and even Eircom, are only approximately €240 per week now, compared to the State pension of €265 per week, without taking allowances into account. They have fallen far behind. I ask the Leader to contact the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform about this issue. It is not good enough for those pensions to fall so far behind. Government intervention is needed to grant the increases every year. For instance, between 2008 and 2022 An Post got an increase of 6.7% whereas the State pension was increased by 18.8%. There is a difference of more than 12% in that period. We propose that the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Minister for Social Protection be contacted about this issue as those in receipt of occupational pensions have done the State great service and their pensions should be brought in line with the State pension.