Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
187. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the long-awaited increase to pensions for former An Post workers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39570/23]
View answer189. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his plans to grant approval for the increase in pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39596/23]
View answer190. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when he proposes to approve the Labour Court recommended increase in pension entitlements for An Post pensioners who have been due pension increases from 1 January 2022 and further increases from January 2023 and July 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39621/23]
View answer191. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when approval will issue on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39648/23]
View answer192. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the pension increases for An Post pensioners, approved by the Labour Court in January 2023, will be approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39650/23]
View answer194. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform pursuant to a Labour Court recommendation (details supplied), for a status update on the process to increase pensions in payment to all pensioners in the An Post superannuation scheme; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39686/23]
View answer198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will take steps to approve the long-awaited pension increase for An Post pensioners (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39700/23]
View answer200. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when An Post pensioners will receive long-delayed increases to their pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39724/23]
View answer201. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if, given that the 7,000 An Post pensioners awaiting increases to their pension have been left waiting for nearly nine months for same, he will provide the final approval to allow these increases to take effect as a matter of urgency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39782/23]
View answer203. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has approved the An Post pension increases as approved by the Labour Court in January 2023; what date will payment of approved increases be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39886/23]
View answer205. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when he will provide the necessary Ministerial approval to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39983/23]
View answer206. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when approval will be given to allow communication workers to access pension increases as approved by the Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40011/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 194, 198, 200, 201, 203, 205 and 206 together.
Under the rules of the An Post Main Superannuation Scheme pension increases are subject to the authorisation of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications given with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
On 9 March 2023 An Post wrote to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications requesting Ministerial approval for three increases to pensions under the Scheme. The Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications wrote to this Department on 29 August requesting my consent for the increases.
The increases concerned are:
I. 5.0% increase effective from 1 January 2022
II. 2.0% increase effective from 1 January 2023
III. 1.0% increase effective from 1 July 2023
I gave my consent for the increases on 8th September 2023 and this has been communicated to the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications.
The payment of the increases is now a matter for the trustees and administrators of the An Post Superannuation Scheme.
