Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

310. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on the approval process for the proposed 1.4% increase in pensions and deferred pensions for members of the an post superannuation scheme, as submitted by An Post on 26 January 2025; if he will confirm the current status of the business case submitted by An Post; the expected timeframe for a decision; any factors influencing the timeline for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28477/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On the 13th of May 2025 the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications wrote to my Department requesting my consent for a 1.4% pension increase effective from 1 January 2025 for pensions in payment and deferred pensions under the An Post Main Superannuation scheme.

The rules of the scheme allow for the payment of discretionary pension increases subject to Ministerial consent, that is, the approval of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications subject to the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation.

A similar provision regarding Ministerial approval and consent is contained in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016, as amended by Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Circular 16/2021. As required under Circular 16/2021 a report on the proposed increase was completed by NewERA on the 26th of March 2025 which has informed the consent process.

On the 27th of May officials in my Department communicated my consent to the Department of the

Environment, Climate and Communications.

Payment of the increase to pensioners, which will be backdated to the 1st of January 2025, is now a

matter for An Post and the Trustees of the scheme.

There are no outstanding requests for pension increases for An Post pensioners with my Department.