Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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459. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has plans in relation to the pension provisions for retirees of some categories of semi-State pension funds such as RTÉ that have not had a pension increase for 12 years and do not qualify for the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32474/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have primary Ministerial responsibility for any of the commercial Semi State bodies. Under the various scheme rules, in the first instance, it is a matter for the Government Department under whose aegis responsibility for individual commercial semi State Bodies falls to consider and approve any pension increase sought, with the consent of the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Obviously, account must be taken of the existing funding position of the relevant pension funds prior to taking any decisions on pension increases. The impact of pension increases on the overall sustainability of pension funds is an important overall consideration. In that context, I am aware of the deficit situation in the pension funds of a number of the commercial bodies. Obviously, that is a matter to be addressed in the first instance by the relevant commercial bodies themselves.