Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport when An Post pensioners, will receive their delayed since September 2025 payment; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6699/26]

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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85. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport when he will take steps to allow for the pension increase approved by An Post in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6798/26]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.

Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for Culture, Communication and Sport with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes.

In accordance with the Act and the relevant Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, An Post must seek Ministerial approval from both Ministers to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. Section 2.13 of the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies Superannuation and Remuneration annex sets out that NewERA advice should be sought in respect of pension amendment proposals, as is appropriate in their role as commercial and financial advisors to the Ministers. 

On 23 October 2025, An Post wrote to my Department requesting consent for an increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions, namely, to increase pensions in payment for members and deferred members of the An Post Superannuation Scheme by 6% per annum with effect from 1st January 2025 and 1% from 1 June 2025, arising from its agreements with employee representative groups. It is not possible, at this point, to set out the specific timeframe within which the decision-making process will be concluded by both shareholding Ministers in respect of increases submitted for consent. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place.