Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
256. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a detailed update on the status of the long-delayed pension increases for An Post pensioners, which were approved by the Labour Court in January 2023 and signed off by both the An Post Pension Board of Trustees and the Board of Management of An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53104/23]
View answer257. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the eleven-month delay in granting final approval to pension increases for An Post pensioners; the estimated additional cost to the Exchequer or to An Post, given the average pension at An Post is €320 a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53105/23]
View answer258. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the financial implications for either the Exchequer or An Post for the granting of consent for the payment of a 2% increase to An Post pensioners with effect from 1 January 2023, as well as the separate increases of 5% from 1 January 2022, and 1% from 1 July 2023, in accordance with the Labour Court recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53118/23]
View answer259. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide assurance that more than 7,000 An Post pensioners will start receiving the backdated cost-of-living increases at the end of November, as mentioned; the measures that have been put in place to ensure the timely disbursement of these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53119/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 259, inclusive, together.
I received a recommendation from my officials on 25 August and granted my consent on 28 August to the payment of an increase of 2% to the An Post pensioners with effect from 1 January 2023 and to the payment of separate increase of 5% effective from 1 January 2022 and 1% effective from 1 July 2023 in line with a Labour Court Recommendation.
The consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the proposal was subsequently provided on 8 September 2023. An Post was made aware that consent had been granted.
The processing of the payments to Pensioners and the associated cost involved are direct operational matters for An Post and not matters in which I, as Minister, have any direct function.
