Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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242. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to introduce an amendment to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to give effect to the programme for Government commitment to retain a State pension age from January 2021 of 66; and if so, when the amending legislation will be introduced. [37461/20]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the legal mechanism by which she plans to defer the planned increase in the State pension age from January 2021. [37468/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together.

The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” sets out how the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred and it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Commission on Pensions.  

The Government confirmed as part of its Budget 2021 measures that the required amendment to primary legislation (the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005) will be brought before the Oireachtas later this year as part of the Budget Bill for enactment in advance of the 1st January 2021. 

The Government has set aside a provision of €221 million in 2021 to support this measure.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.