Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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191. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects the 2% increase to the pensions of retired An Post workers to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44849/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, and the rules of the An Post Pension Scheme, pension increases or alterations to the schemes are subject to the authorisation of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications given with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

An Post formally sought Ministerial approval on 4 May 2022 to increase pensions in payment and deferred pensions for members of the An Post Superannuation Scheme by 2% per annum with effect from 1 January 2022 and up to a further 2% per annum with effect from 1 January 2023.

In line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 16 of 2021 the authorisation of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications for the 2% per annum pension increase from 1 January 2022 has been communicated to my Department and a request for my concurrence was received from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on 5 September 2022.

I gave my consent to the request on 8 September and this consent was forwarded to Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on that date.

As the pension increase has now received the requisite Ministerial approvals, any further queries, including queries in relation to when An Post workers will receive the 2% increase, should be directed to the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.