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Pension Fund Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Ceisteanna (635)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

635. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of occasions the host mailing service for administrators of a pension scheme of her Department has been used in each year since it became operational; if there is a similar system in place for the scheme members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43547/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has arrangements in place to assist with the tracing of pension schemes members.  The pension provider must have made an unsuccessful attempt to contact the scheme member and my Department will only forward correspondence to the last known address of the member, based on its records, and only if this address differs from that held by the pension scheme provider.

No personal data is provided to the pension scheme providers by my Department in this process. 

According to Departmental figures available,  this service has been used as follows for the years 2016 to date:

2016 - 3,635

2017 - 3,528

2018-  3,384

2019 - 2,679

Unfortunately, I am advised that only estimated figures for the years preceding 2016 are available which can be furnished to the Deputy if he wishes to have them.

The Department does not hold information on individuals' private pension entitlements and therefore the host mailing service cannot help individuals trace unclaimed pensions.  If a person believes that they may have an unclaimed pension entitlement they should contact their former employers and/or pension scheme providers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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