Dara Calleary
Mayo · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Agriculture is the backbone. We have all been in the Mansion House today, or everyone has said they were anyway. Energy security is key and crucial. Everybody wants energy security but nobody wants wind energy. We have to strike a balance and get a real discussion, but food security is most important.”
“While we have gaps there, we are addressing them. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has announced the minor injury units, which will take the pressure off major hospitals and ensure services are available.”
“Recent figures from the CSO show that there is a 5.8% increase in the number of people living in rural areas between 2016 and 2022. In areas classified as highly rural and remote, the increase was 6.4%.”
“Enterprise Ireland is investing in Irish-owned, Irish-founded companies. Similarly, 59% of IDA investments were located outside the Dublin region. We will continue to work, looking at the progress we can make through the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and, as Senator O'Loughlin said, through supporting our local enterprise offices.”
“That is something we do daily and they are used where is necessary. The plan will be supported by ambitious, clear, practical and measurable actions. I have spoken to some of the funding programmes available within my Department.”
“Táim tar éis cuairt a thabhairt ar gach ceantar Gaeltachta chun plé fairsing a dhéanamh leis na pobail sin chun a fháil amach uathu féin cén cineál tacaíochta ar féidir a chur ar fáil dóibh chun cabhrú leo. Táim chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair sin sa bhuiséad le teacht agus na buiséid eile.”
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“Ina theannta sin, bronnadh os cionn €3 mhilliún ar iarratasóirí sa Ghaeltacht faoin deontas athchóirithe do réadmhaoin fholamh le linn 2024 agus 2025.”
“Sa phlean tithíochta a foilsíodh le déanaí, Tithe a Sheachadadh, Pobail a Thógáil, gealltar an ráiteas náisiúnta pleanála a fhoilsiú agus moltar scrúdú a dhéanamh ar an bhféidearthacht go n-oibreodh Údarás na Gaeltachta le hUisce Éireann agus údaráis áitiúla chun tacú le tithíocht a thógáil do phobail labhartha na Gaeilge. Reáchtáil mé cruinniú le gairid idir Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Uisce Éireann chun a chinntiú go ndéanfar dul chun cinn gan dua maidir leis an fhéidearthacht seo a scrúdú. Bunaithe ar fhigiúirí ó na húdaráis áitiúla, ceadaíodh meán de 90% d'iarratais phleanála le haghaidh tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht in 2025, rud a léiríonn nach bhfuil fadhb ag daoine cead pleanála a fháil sa Ghaeltacht.”
“Cé gurb é athbhunú toghcháin chuig bord an údaráis príomhchuspóir an Bhille seo, ar mhaithe le tacú le soláthar tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht, déanfar leasú sa Bhille ar alt 8 den Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta chun cead a thabhairt don údarás talamh a dhíol le comhlacht tithíochta ceadaithe nó le húdarás tithíochta, nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile chuig an gcuspóir céanna, chun tithíocht a sholáthar sa Ghaeltacht. Tá mé féin agus mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire, an Teachta James Browne, ag obair go dlúth lena chéile ar an gceist seo lenár n-oifigigh, a bhfuil obair shuntasach déanta acu ar fhorbairt ráiteas náisiúnta pleanála don Ghaeltacht.”
“Mar is eol don Teachta, is fiú a thabhairt faoi deara go dtiteann an fhreagracht maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta ar bhonn ginearálta ar an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta. Agus é sin ráite, tá soláthar tithíochta dóibh siúd atá ina gcónaí agus ag obair sa Ghaeltacht thar a bheith tábhachtach dom go pearsanta agus do mo Roinn. Go deimhin, tá tithíocht riachtanach chun an teanga, seirbhísí, fostaíocht, fiontraíocht agus deiseanna eile sa Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Agus é sin san áireamh, tá céimeanna tacaíochta á dtógáil chun na críche seo. Beidh an Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú), 2024 le tógáil ag Céim na Tuarascála an tseachtain seo chugainn.”
“I encourage every Deputy to engage with the management of their local authorities in respect of LIS to ensure they are spending the allocation they are getting because, as I have said, it is not good for local authorities to be sending back money. I want money spent, particularly where it is capital money. I encourage engagement at local management level around LIS budgets.”
“We are very aware in the Department of the increase in costs, in particular over the past three months since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East. That directly impacts road costs in particular. That is why the Department will be flexible. If I can see underspends, LIS will be a priority. Our capital delivery teams are engaging with local authorities that are serial offenders as regards sending money back. We tried to get notification of the approval of schemes out to councils earlier this year so that they could get work under way in the so-called summer period and get most of that work done. Looking around, I see that nearly everybody here is a rural Deputy.”
“If money is returned by local authorities, it makes my job in the Department of putting extra resources into this programme even more difficult.”
“Laois completed 18 roads in 2025 and 81 are outstanding on the list we have. We had a really successful visit to Laois with Deputy Stanley and with Deputies Fleming and Aird some weeks back. I saw the fantastic work Laois County Council is doing. I pay tribute to that work. I could literally throw the entire budget of the Department at LIS and still have waiting lists. Other Departments also have responsibilities in terms of regional and public roads funding in rural areas. It cannot just be this Department that takes on that burden. We are working closely with other Departments on that. We are looking at our expenditure as we are nearly six months through the year. I reiterate the necessity for every local authority to complete and spend the money allocated to them in a given year.”
“There are considerable disparities in expenditure on the scheme from local authority to local authority. We are zeroing-in on that to ensure there is a common spend around the country. In that way, we will also achieve more roads being completed.”
“They have now received approval to proceed with the works. I have directed that scheme spend be monitored closely to ensure that funding is fully utilised and not returned to the Department and that as many road improvements as possible are completed under the scheme this year. Parallel to that process, I will be monitoring spending within my Department over the coming months to identify any potential savings that can be reallocated to the LIS programme. I am very aware of the importance of the scheme to councils and rural communities. It is a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and me. We continue to monitor expenditure within the Department. We are also asking local authorities to consider their level of expenditure on each road.”
“I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing interest in this area. The local improvement scheme, LIS, provides for the upgrading of non-public rural roads and laneways typically not maintained by local authorities. It was reintroduced in 2017. Since 2017, funding of over €200 million has been allocated to local authorities and over 5,500 roads have been improved. In February this year, I was pleased along with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to launch the 2026 scheme. We confirmed base funding for 2026 of €17.5 million which represents an increase on the initial base funding made available in 2025. Laois County Council received a 2026 allocation of almost €470,000. The total allocated to Laois since 2017 is over €6.6 million. My officials are engaging with local authorities which have submitted their priority road lists for 2026.”
“Níl aon phointe caighdeáin a fhoilsiú agus a rá go bhfuil an tseirbhís ar fáil ach nuair a théann daoine chuig aon oifig Stáit, níl an tseirbhís sin ar fáil toisc easpa cainteoirí chun an tseirbhís a sholáthar. Tá sé tábhachtach dom, nuair a fhoilseofar gach rud, go mbeidh muid agus gach comhlacht ar an talamh réidh le dul.”
“Tá muid ag obair ar na caighdeáin sin. Tá mé muiníneach go mbeidh muid in ann iad a fhoilsiú roimh i bhfad. Tá mé ag obair freisin leis na comhlachtaí poiblí chun go mbeidh tuiscint ag gach comhlacht ar na caighdeáin seo. Caithfidh siad iad a thuiscint agus a chinntiú go mbeidh na resources acu chun tabhairt faoi seo. Ní mór do na comhlachtaí sin freisin tuiscint a bheith acu ar cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé seo do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus don Rialtas araon. Mar Aire, tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeidh na caighdeáin sin ard agus go dtuigeann na comhlachtaí poiblí agus eagrais Stáit go gcaithfidh siad é seo a dhéanamh agus go gcaithfear na resources a chur i bhfeidhm lena dhéanamh ar ardchaighdeán.”
“Tá sé tábhachtach freisin - tuigim go dtuigeann an Teachta é seo - go mbeidh seirbhís le daoine i gceist agus go mbeidh muinín ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus muintir na Gaeilge as an tseirbhís atá le teacht. Tá muid ag iarraidh go mbeidh muinín ag muintir na Gaeltachta go mbeidh an tseirbhís ag feidhmiú ag an gcaighdeán is airde. Tá muid ag obair ar na caighdeáin sin.”
“Tuigim an mífhoighne ach ní mór na dúshláin a thuiscint freisin. Tá muid ag obair ar na dúshláin sin le cinntiú go mbeidh daoine in ann na seirbhísí a sholáthar, ní hamháin do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ach dóibh siúd a labhraíonn Gaeilge freisin. Is gá go mbeidh taithí agus muinín ag na daoine a bhíonn ag obair sa Státseirbhís chun é sin a dhéanamh. Tá muid ag obair air sin. Agus mo hata eile orm mar Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí, tá sé sin tábhachtach dúinn. Tá muid ag obair go mbeidh daoine sa Roinn sin in ann seirbhísí a sholáthar do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus do dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. Léiríonn mo thaithí sa Roinn sin na dúshláin atá sa Roinn chun an tseirbhís seo a thabhairt amach. Tá muid ag obair air agus tá muid dírithe air.”
“Táim muiníneach, mar thoradh ar an gcomhairliúchán breise seo agus ar an obair atá ar siúl ag mo Roinn idir an dá linn trí fhorbairt na struchtúr seo, go gcuirfear na tacaíochtaí cuí ar fáil do chomhlachtaí poiblí chun tabhairt faoi aon athruithe is gá sa spás seo. Bunaithe air seo, beidh mé ag leagan síos dáta nó dátaí réalaíocha agus insroichte a chothóidh muinín phobal na Gaeltachta in úsáid na seirbhísí poiblí sin trí Ghaeilge de réir a chéile, sa chás nach bhfuiltear á n-úsáid cheana féin.”
“Bhí na próisis úd an-tábhachtach ar mhaithe leis an leibhéal is airde tuisceana agus feasachta maidir leis an bhforáil a chothú i measc na gcomhlachtaí poiblí, go háirithe dóibh siúd a bhfuil an leibhéal is airde idirghníomhaíochta acu leis an bpobal. Is fiú a aithint freisin nach beart iomlán neamhspleách é seo atá le feidhmiú i bhfolús. Tá sé mar chuid den éiceachóras foriomlán a bhfuiltear ag iarraidh a fhorbairt faoin Acht. Chuige sin, beifear ag tacú lena cur i bhfeidhm tríd an obair atá ar bun faoin phlean náisiúnta agus, go deimhin, an plean gníomhaíochta trí bliana a foilsíodh níos luaithe i mbliana, mar aon leis na caighdeáin teanga agus forálacha eile an Achta i gcoitinne.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist seo a ardú. Baineann an cheist seo le halt 18E(b) d'Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a cheanglaíonn ar an Aire, le hordú, an dáta nó na dátaí a shonrú faoina gcuirfear gach seirbhís a sholáthraíonn comhlacht poiblí i limistéar pleanála teanga Gaeltachta, nó don limistéar sin, ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Mar atá luaite agam cheana maidir leis an gceist seo, is beart suntasach agus fairsing é, a bhfuil go leor le cur sa mheá faoi. Dá bhrí sin, tugadh faoi chomhairliúchán cuimsitheach agus fiúntach leis na comhlachtaí poiblí ábhartha chun na críche seo tríd an taighde don phlean náisiúnta um sheirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge, agus arís i ndiaidh fhoilsiú an phlean náisiúnta céanna.”
“I am certainly open to ideas and proposals, however. As I said, the Vintners Federation of Ireland has made a good and round submission to the consultation on Our Rural Future. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Burke, on some of its proposals in the context of Our Rural Future.”
“We are very focused on rural transport. Deputy Buttimer is a Minister of State in the Department of Transport as well as being a Minister of State in my Department. The work being done by Local Link to expand its services and, more importantly, expand the flexibility of its services in recent years will continue. We will engage with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Department of enterprise and tourism in the context of Our Rural Future policy to determine what can be done to sustain rural enterprises and economies. Obviously, as the Deputy knows, due to state aid rules, we have to be careful in how we intervene in private business. That is why we are investing in the social hub of communities, such as community centres, sports clubs and men's sheds. Through the local enhancement programme, we are supporting local community groups.”
“Pilot schemes are running in both Killarney and Achill with the TFI Anseo app, which is effectively providing a bus-on-demand service to a certain extent. We will look at that pilot and, ideally, we will expand it around the country, specifically to rural areas. That will assist the viability of rural hospitality venues.”
“I assure the Deputy that we are very committed to investing in rural social infrastructure. That is why we will be opening the community centre investment fund for investment of €25 million in the coming week. That will assist community centres right across the country. When it comes to rural isolation, the Deputy is correct to identify rural men in particular. We have just invested up to €3,000 per shed for 369 men's sheds across the country. The rural pub is important. I welcome and thank VFI for its submission. While it highlighted excise duty and cost, it also highlighted the need for a rural transport plan, capital supports for rural pubs and support for pubs as community venues. In the context of the transport plan, we are having engagement with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.”
“The development of the new Our Rural Future policy will continue to provide a framework for continued investment in our rural communities in the coming years. The policy and its associated action plan are nearing completion. I am continuing to engage with all of my ministerial colleagues to ensure that our ambition for rural Ireland is underpinned by a series of ambitious and practical actions. That ambition includes addressing the challenges faced by rural communities, rural isolation in particular.”
“The policy is underpinned by funding through my Department's rural investment and community development programmes, as well as an array of funding streams across government. As Deputy McGuinness set out, rural pubs play an important social role in rural communities in particular. I am conscious of the challenge of rural isolation. With this in mind, the Department has a range of funding streams to help address the issue. These supports include the local enhancement programme, the community services programme, the social inclusion community activation programme and the seniors alert programme. There is no doubt that our significant investment in the community centre investment fund in recent years has helped to ensure our rural areas have high-quality facilities that serve as focal points for communities.”
“I am aware of the recent figures from the Vintners Federation of Ireland, which highlight the challenges faced by rural pubs and their importance as hubs for social connection and cultural life. I agree with the Deputy's analysis in that regard. I also acknowledge that the VFI made a written submission to the consultation process which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I opened last year to inform the development of the next iteration of Our Rural Future. While specific supports for the sector would fall under the remit of my colleagues, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the new Our Rural Future policy will take a whole-of-government approach to rural development, with actions to support the rural economy and rural communities, including addressing rural isolation.”
“The Deputy has raised it with me and Deputy Currie and colleagues across the Government are relating to me that we need to look at those payment rates. The point I always make about jobseeker's pay-related benefit is that it is people's own money being paid back to them. They have paid PRSI and they have paid into the Social Insurance Fund and that is what it is there for.”
“I agree and I think we have done that. This year, the fuel allowance has been extended to those on the working family payment. It is the first time the fuel allowance is available to those who are also working. That means that 50,000 extra people now qualify for the fuel allowance payment. We also ensured that it was backdated to 1 January so that the 50,000 or so families with children would receive a lump sum payment in the beginning of March for January and February and were now getting the payment up to the end of this week to assist with the energy crisis at the moment. We are going to look at the experience of the pay-related jobseeker's benefit's first year and how it worked and then apply the lessons to forming a consultation document on parental leave.”
“I take on board the Deputy's suggestions and proposals on the need for greater awareness, particularly for fathers, around the supports that are available. We will engage with the Department on that.”
“As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government has a commitment to introduce pay-related parent's benefit. We are looking at that. We introduced pay-related jobseeker's benefit in March 2025. That has just finished its first year of operation and I am undertaking a full review of it. We will learn from the lessons of pay-related jobseeker's benefit what we can do before we carry out a consultation later in the year in relation to parental benefit. We introduced a very specific child poverty package of over €260 million this year looking at families on lower incomes. We have a very specific focus on children who are at risk of poverty and on reducing that rate to zero, ideally. No child should be at risk at poverty.”
“In providing nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to each parent, parents' benefit in effect ring-fences leave for fathers and it is hoped that this approach will encourage fathers to avail of their leave entitlement. While Ireland is atypical among EU member states in paying a flat rate for all family leave benefits of €299, it provides one of the most generous durations of maternity leave, with 26 paid weeks and 16 unpaid weeks available to new mothers. I will certainly take Deputy Boland's proposal on board in relation to awareness around parents' benefit, particularly for men.”
“The nine weeks can be taken in any combination of minimum one week to a maximum of nine weeks' leave. The 2019 Act is in line with the EU directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers. It provides that the nine weeks' leave is non-transferrable between parents. That is in order to promote the equal participation of men and women in the workplace and in caring roles. The leave was extended from the original two weeks in November 2019 to five weeks in April 2021, seven weeks in July 2022, and nine weeks in August 2024. The number of applications for parents' benefit by both men and women has steadily increased. Our Department's statistics for quarter 4 of last year show that 40% of all applicants for parents' benefit were men and 60% were women.”
“I thank Deputy Boland for her question. As she acknowledged, parents' benefit provides nine weeks' paid leave to parents during the first two years of a child’s life or following adoption. Any proposal to extend the period of leave is a matter for Deputy Foley, who has legal and policy responsibility for family leave as Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. My Department has legal and policy responsibility for the payment of the associated benefits. Parents' leave and benefit were introduced in November 2019. The Government has provided over €123 million for the scheme in 2026. The scheme provides each parent with nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to be taken within two years of the birth or placement, in the case of adoption, of their child.”
“As Minister for Social Protection, I will certainly continue to invest in our pensioners - not just in the weekly rate but the supports and other payments that are available, such as the living alone allowance, the fuel allowance and access to other payments. As I have said throughout the morning, we have done a lot of work in recent weeks to give information to Oireachtas Members about additional needs payments and community welfare supports that are available. I encourage Members to use those supports.”
“I agree, particularly in relation to the fixed nature of pensioners' incomes and the challenges they face. They will be a priority for me in the context of budget 2027. I assure the Deputy of that, not just in the context of 2026 but also with regard to the increased energy costs they will face. I am very much aware of their need to have security. In respect of information, unfortunately, we will not be able to do that until budget day, but the Deputy should be very aware that I look forward to working with colleagues across the House in relation to providing them with security and support. They should not have to have that worry at this point in their lives. They have given enough. They have done and worked hard enough for this country and we should give them comfort and security now that they are in retirement.”
“I am going to be particularly focused on the living alone allowance because, for many older people who are left alone by being widowed or through separation, their expenses and the cost of running large houses remain but their income has been halved. I am going to be very focused on the living alone allowance as well as looking at how we continue to use the fuel allowance on in a targeted manner to support those most at risk of energy poverty, which includes our pensioners.”
“I am not saying that it is not going to be possible to do anything. We are obviously not in the budget situation yet, but I am very aware of the pressures people are under and that those pressures will increase during the winter. That is why, in the context of our initial €750 million response, we have made it clear that we may have to produce further responses. However, it is important that we give ourselves the ability to be in a position to respond, and do so quickly, if this energy crisis continues through the winter. I had a very good discussion with Deputy Colm Burke earlier around the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance.”
“While it is not possible at this stage to set out specific budget parameters for budget 2027, we are very much closely monitoring developments. All changes to the current rate of payment for contributory and non-contributory payments will be considered in a budgetary context but with a very sharp eye on the pressures our pensioners are facing.”
“I am very conscious of the impact that increases in the cost of living are having on those who rely on social protection supports, particularly older people who may not have the ability to get extra income, but also carers, those with disabilities and low-income families. Additional relevant measures contained in budget 2026 included a €5 increase in the fuel allowance, which brought it to €38 per week, and a Christmas bonus was paid to pension recipients in December. In March, as the Deputy knows, the Government also approved an extension of the 2025-26 fuel allowance season by four weeks, which will see it continue to the end of this week, as part of the temporary and targeted measures to help those most vulnerable to rising energy costs. That included pensioners, and over 460,000 households are in receipt of the fuel allowance payment.”
“I thank Deputy Callaghan for her question. As part of budget 2026, I announced a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures, which included a €10 weekly increase across social welfare schemes from 1 January 2026. This raised the maximum personal rate of State pension contributory to €299.30 per week and non-contributory to €288.00 per week. These increases were set above the prevailing consumer price index, CPI, with pension rates rising by 3.46% for contributory and 3.60% for non-contributory. In determining these budget increases, consideration was given to the most recent available consumer price index data and the broader cost of living pressures were also assessed in areas such as housing, energy and food.”
“However, I can assure the Deputy and the carers organisations - we will spend a day engaging with them next week - that their work is valued by the Government and by myself and we will certainly try to look at the schemes we can do, not just removing the means test for potential carers but also for those on existing carers payments.”
“That is a very sensible proposal and those who care depend on heat and very high energy usage in terms of washing machines, tumble dryers, electrical equipment, beds, etc. I will look at that and see what the reason is. We introduced carers as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance a number of years ago. We will do some work to make sure those who are supposed to get it are getting it. As I said, this year we expanded the fuel allowance to those on the working family payment but, obviously, anything we do has to be done within a very strict budget envelope and there are many priorities.”
“I will be very focused on what we can do for those who are on the existing payment regarding providing extra supports for them in their very important work.”
“We also engage with the carer organisations and we look forward to engaging with them on their work yesterday and at our annual carers' forum, which is being held next week on 7 May. This gives carers and carers' organisations a chance to engage directly with not just myself but also with officials from across the Department and a range of budgets. We also have our pre-budget forum as a Department on 1 July, at which carers will be represented and will be part of. There are a number of issues and I will pursue the costings as regards the Deputy's proposal, particularly for those carers who provide care for several people. I am determined to abolish the means test during the lifetime of this Government but I am also very aware of existing carers for whom that will not make a difference in their weekly payment and in the supports available.”
“Where a person is caring for more than one child, they may claim the allowance for each child. There is no restriction on the number of children being claimed for. The programme for Government commits to examining how best to support carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person. This work will continue to be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, taking account of available resources and the broader budgetary context. However, in line with the views expressed to me by carers and carer associations, my first priority will be the removal of the means test.”
“An accurate estimate of the full year cost of paying carers who care for two or more people with a full carer’s allowance in respect of each person, as requested by the Deputy, is not currently available. However, I have asked for that to be prepared and I will forward the same to the Deputy. Carer's benefit also provides an enhanced payment where care is provided to more than one person. The weekly personal rate of payment increased to €271 where a person is caring for one person and €406.50 where two or more people are being cared for. The annual carer's support grant is available to all carers providing full-time care regardless of their means. Last June, this grant was increased by €150 to €2,000 - the highest ever level. Domiciliary care allowance is payable to a parent or guardian of a child under 16 with a severe disability.”
“I thank Deputy Wall for his question. The Government recognises the important and valuable role of family carers and we - myself in particular - are committed to continuing to improve the supports available to them. Carer's allowance provides a personal rate for the carer with additional increases for child dependants. If the carer is providing full-time care to more than one person, the rate payable is increased by 50% of the standard personal rate. As part of budget 2026, the personal rate of carer's allowance increased by €10 per week. A person caring for more than one person and receiving the maximum rate now receives a personal rate of €405 per week if aged under 66 or €462 per week if aged 66 or over.”
“I acknowledge the frustrations with the time it has taken but we have to engage with that Department regarding this space, and we are nearly there. I wish the Deputy well in the lotto, also.”
“I can assure the Deputy there has been a lot of engagement from my Department's branch office support unit with both branch manager associations. Over the course of 2025, both associations expressed their intentions to seek a request for the review of the remuneration package. The representative group of branch managers submitted its formal request and case to the Department in May and the branch manager association did so in August. They all reflected not just auto enrolment but also the operational challenges of the branch office network, other costs that have increased and the cost of living. We have been engaging with the Department of public expenditure on that and in respect of our responsibilities to engage with that Department around that.”
“I am very conscious of their work, the contribution they make and the presence they give the Department around the country.”
“Auto enrolment obligations involving 1.5% of payroll costs now apply across the economy and with the exception of those community and voluntary organisations paid on a cost-recovery basis via grants, it is not appropriate for the Department to unilaterally approve changes to pricing arrangements to fund auto enrolments costs under commercial contracts such as those in place. However, we have received a request for review the overall remuneration arrangements for branch managers. We are engaging at the moment with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and will be in a position to revert to branch managers in the coming days with an update. I am hopeful that we can finalise revised terms very shortly.”