589. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware that the Port of Cork has in recent years taken pilots within the port on as direct employees of the port; and the action the port has now taken in relation to the prior pension fund which was available for pilots at the port when they were employed by a separate company managed by the port. [58589/26]

In Ireland, pilotage is governed by the Harbours Acts 1996, as amended. Under the Harbours Acts, pilotage is devolved to the ports, and the ports are the pilotage authorities for their respective pilotage districts.

The Harbours Acts provide for two ways in which port companies may appoint pilots to provide for pilotage services within their pilotage districts. Pilots may be either (i) employees of the port company or (ii) licensed by the port company to provide pilotage services within that pilotage district.

As of 1 January 2025, the pilots in the Port of Cork Company (PoCC), who were previously categorised as self-employed, have become direct employees of PoCC, following the issuing of new guidance from the Revenue Commissioners.

PoCC has advised my Department that pilots recruited since 6 March 2006 are members of the PoCC Defined Contribution Pension Scheme. Those employed prior to that are members of a PoCC Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.