Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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297. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the pension increase for retired staff of 2.5% for Eir from 1 July 2024, and a 2% increase for An Post from 1 January 2024, will be implemented; if payments will be commenced before Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43964/24]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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304. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44143/24]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 304 together.

The procedures for Ministerial consent of pension increases in commercial semi state bodies are outlined in the Annex on Remuneration and Superannuation of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which was introduced by Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 16/2021. The Code of Practice provides that it is initially a matter for each Government Department, under whose aegis responsibility for individual commercial semi state bodies fall, to consider and approve any pension increase proposals and following this to seek the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

Rule 13 of the An Post Main Superannuation Scheme provides that the Company may grant such increases in pensions and preserved pensions under the Scheme as may be authorised from time to time by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. An Post wrote to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications on 21 June 2024, requesting approval to increase pensions in payment and deferred pensions by 2.0% effective from 1 January 2024. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications wrote to my Department on 26 September 2024 requesting my consent for the increase. I granted my consent on 15 October 2024 and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications was notified on that date of my consent.

Eir wrote to the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on 19 June 2024 to request Ministerial consent for a 2.5% discretionary pension increase, effective from 1 July 2024. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications wrote to my Department on 2 September 2024 requesting my consent and I granted my consent on 10 October 2024 in accordance with the Code of Practice. The concurrence of the Minister for Finance was also sought for this increase on 10 October 2024, as required under Section 10 of the Telecom Éireann Main Superannuation Scheme 1988, and the concurrence of the Minister for Finance was provided on 30 October 2024. The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications was notified of these Ministerial approvals on this date.

It is now a matter for both companies to arrange the payment of the pension increases from the effective dates. Further queries should be directed to the respective company.