Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the negotiations to increase the Eircom pension; when a decision is expected on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12369/23]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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167. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will sign off on the 3% pay increase for Eircom pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12681/23]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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186. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the 3% increase for retired members (details supplied) has not been cleared at Ministerial level when it has been cleared by the company since July of 2022. [13058/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 167 and 186 together.

The Eircom Main Superannuation Scheme (as amended) was established by Statute for the purpose of providing for the pension liabilities of staff transferred from the former Department of Posts and Telegraphs to Telecom Éireann on its establishment on 1st January 1984, the Vesting day. The pre-vesting and post vesting liabilities of the scheme members were paid entirely out of the Main Fund until 1996.

Following extensive discussions with the Department of Finance at the time, formal arrangements for payment of the sums due in respect of pre-vesting service were settled between the company, Fund Trustees and that Department. The arrangements involved, inter alia, the establishment of the Eircom No. 2 Fund in 1999 to provide funding towards pre-vesting liabilities while the Main Fund continued to provide only for the post-vesting day liabilities arising.

The provisions of the eircom Superannuation Scheme stipulates that pension increases to members can be paid subject to authorisation at Ministerial level across three Departments; my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, and the Department of Finance.

In October 2022, my Department received a request from the trustees for sanction for an increase of 3%, backdated to 1 July 2022. In order to consider the request, a report was requested from NewERA on the pension increase proposal, which was received at the end of February.

My Department received confirmation of concurrence to my approval of the request from the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the Minister for Finance on 15 March 2023. The approval for the proposed increase of 3% effective from 1 July 2022 has been communicated to the company.