Questions

116. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s current and historical communication to carers and potential carers that they relinquished their entitlement to the State pension (contributory) by providing care; whether persons were informed that their care-related credited contributions are not considered qualifying contributions for SPC eligibility; and if he is satisfied that info…

697. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to regulations he signed on 23 December to exempt employees from auto-enrolment who are members of occupational pension schemes that are funded by their employers outside of payroll contributions, if he will outline which staff from which sectors this concerns; or if he will provide a sample of professions and sectors which have been effec…

3. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the roll-out of auto-enrolment; specifically for an update on his engagement with other Departments as regards the roll-out of auto-enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2823/26]

9. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employees in County Cork registered with My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2683/26]

1510. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the Government’s position on proposals contained in the pensions authority’s recent consultation on PRSA investment rules; whether he has considered the potential impact that restricting direct property investment within personal retirement savings accounts will have on small pension savers who use such arrangements to invest prudently in individual pr…

1511. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is Government policy to support a balanced approach between small-scale pension investors, including self-directed PRSA holders investing in individual properties, and large institutional investors (vulture funds); and whether he has concerns that the investment restrictions under consideration by the pensions authority could disproportionately d…

1560. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he has taken to advertise the My Future Fund scheme; the steps specifically that have been taken to encourage people to maintain payments after the six month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1017/26]

1561. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to introduce a scheme similar to the My Future Fund scheme for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1018/26]

1562. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to introduce a scheme similar to the My Future Fund scheme for the self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1019/26]

1569. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the State pension (contributory) eligibility rules as they apply to former members of religious orders (details supplied); if he will consider the introduction of credited contributions, reckonable service, or other measures to recognise such service for contributory pension purposes; if he acknowledges that reliance on …

1577. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will bring forward legislation to amend section 108 entitlement to pension of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to allow contributions made during the year in which pensionable age is reached be considered in pension entitlement calculations on a pro-rata basis in order that those born later in a given year are not progressively penalise…

1578. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether the information campaigns carried out to date in relation to the auto enrolment pension scheme have been sufficient to ensure widespread knowledge of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1774/26]

1579. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any further campaigns to ensure that there is sufficient knowledge and awareness of the auto enrolment pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1775/26]

650. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who moves jobs after four years must start auto-enrolment again at 1.5% or will remain at 3%. [72033/25]

459. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility of a person (details supplied) for a pension (non-contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71182/25]

246. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the pension increase to retired An Post pensioners, which is backdated from January 2025 will be paid after agreeing the increase in September 2025. [70812/25]

569. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection if a condition (details supplied) would qualify a person for a blind pension. [70053/25]

360. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to address concerns that the auto-enrolment process will undermine private company pensions by forcing private pension employees to pay 2% and the employer 1.5% which is more than the State auto enrolment contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68950/25]

375. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm if a person (details supplied) who was entitled to claim the bereaved partners pension received an interim payment while the legislation was being drafted; the way in which this interim payment was facilitated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67727/25]

383. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection when workers will be informed of the charges under which the ‘My Future Fund’; and if workers will not be informed till after the scheme commences on 1 January 2026. [67863/25]

384. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is proposed to charge a fixed fee to administer members’ auto enrolment accounts, which may be in breach of Section 104 of the Pensions Act; if his Department think that Section 104 does not apply and that it can therefore discriminate against low-paid members. [67864/25]

385. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which his Department plans to ascertain members' investment preferences before contributions are received to the auto-enrolment scheme on 1 January 2026, as required under Section 70 of the Act. [67865/25]

391. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if matters will be clarified in respect of auto enrolment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67028/25]

597. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when an applicant (details supplied) will expect to hear from his Department regarding a review of their entitlement to the State pension (contributory) and their desire to switch back to a contributory pension. [65538/25]

725. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection for clarity in relation to employees who currently have private pension arrangements or AVC’s in place which are not directly coming out of their wages; if these employees have a choice whether or not to enrol in the auto-Enrolment My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63709/25]