Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 December 2019
54. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has brought forward proposals for a new total contribution pension scheme; if not, when she expects to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50284/19]
View answerThe introduction of a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establish the level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims was signalled by the then Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010.
Consultation is a very important part of the development and design of the new pension. With this in mind, I launched a public consultation on the design of the TCA on the 28th of May 2018 to which a wide variety of stakeholder groups were invited. A number of workshops were also held on the day to elicit views and feedback.
Shortly afterwards, Oireachtas members were invited to a detailed briefing by my officials in Leinster House. The consultation was open for over three months and the Department received almost 300 responses from individuals and organisations. Those submissions outlined the views of respondents on the issues of most interest to them.
Having carefully examined the outputs of the consultation process, my Department is now designing the scheme and I intend to bring a proposal to Government in the next quarter setting out that design. When the Government has agreed the approach to be taken, I will initiate the work required to introduce this reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
