John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how the Government plans to support employers in explaining the auto-enrolment scheme to their employees, or if there is a plan to communicate and educate employees directly about the scheme; if a worker must earn €20,000 to date before being enrolled, or whether one week’s earnings of €384.62 will be sufficient to trigger inclusion; when the opt-out rules will be finalised; if there will be a phased roll-out of the scheme, or whether all employers and employees will be enrolled from the same start date; if a timeline has been set for extending eligibility to workers under 23 years of age, over 60, and self-employed individuals; if the launch date is still confirmed for 30 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8699/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The new Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System. The legislative basis for implementing the new system was enacted last July. The aim of introducing AE is to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland and to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement savings.

The new system will be called 'My Future Fund'. It will automatically enroll all employees, aged between 23 and 60 years of age, who are earning €20,000 or above a year (across all employments), and who are not actively contributing to a supplementary pension scheme. In order to determine a person's eligibility based on earnings, their earnings over the previous thirteen weeks will be examined to determine whether they are proportionate to earning €20,000 over a year. Those who fall outside the age and earnings threshold – in other words, those aged between 18 and 22 or between 60 and 66, or who earn below €20,000, will be able to join the new retirement savings system by voluntarily opting in if they wish to do so. With regard to extending eligibility to the scheme to the self employed or lowering or raising the age thresholds, Section 43 of the AE Act provides for these issues to be considered as part of a periodic review of the system.

The rules on opting out are set out in Section 54 of the AE Act, which provide that a person may opt out after six months participation in AE, during months seven and eight. Additionally, during the first ten years following the introduction of AE, there will be several increases to the contribution rates. After each increase, a person may opt out after six months participation, again during months seven and eight.

A three-phase communications strategy is underway. Considerable stakeholder engagement has already taken place during the current phase one of the strategy, with significant numbers of employers, HR and payroll professionals attending webinars, in-person meetings, and public events around the country. Future phases of the communications strategy are planned to coincide with developments in the project to maximise impact. As the launch of My Future Fund draws closer later this year, public communications activity through mainstream and other media avenues will increase significantly to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of and ready for AE.

Finally, the implementation of AE is well underway with progress being made across several workstreams including the setting up of the systems to administer the scheme and request for tender for investment managers which is nearing completion. The target date remains 30 September 2025.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.