541. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 12 February 2026, the timeline for the payment of the pension increase for An Post retired workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16329/26]

543. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in light of a negotiated pay increase of seven percent for An Post pensioners, and with all due diligence completed, the reason the payment has not yet been signed off on at Ministerial level; the timeline for when he intends to conclude this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16453/26]

548. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when retired An Post Workers (details supplied) will receive their pension increase which was agreed with the CWU and to date has not been paid to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16648/26]

554. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to confirm that retired An Post workers are due a pension increase, as this has been agreed but has not yet been delivered; when the increase will be given, if it will be backdated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16823/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 541, 543, 548 and 554 together.

Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes.

In accordance with the Act and the relevant Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, An Post must seek Ministerial approval from both Ministers to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. Section 2.13 of the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies Superannuation and Remuneration annex sets out that NewERA advice should be sought in respect of pension amendment proposals, as is appropriate in their role as commercial and financial advisors to the Ministers.

On 23 October 2025, An Post wrote to my Department requesting consent for an increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions, namely, to increase pensions in payment for members and deferred members of the An Post Superannuation Scheme by 6% per annum with effect from 1st January 2025 and 1% from 1 June 2025, arising from its agreements with employee representative groups. In line with both the Code of Practice for State Bodies and the relevant legislation, Ministerial consent has been granted and this was conveyed to An Post on 25 February 2026.

I hope you will appreciate that as the operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes, I cannot comment on when the approved increase will be received.