980. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide additional funding to community and voluntary sector organisations to allow them comply with their obligations with the My Future Funds pension scheme, ensuring that these State-contracted organisations can make payments on behalf of their staff without having to cut essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63648/26]

Within the annual estimates process, each Department is responsible for budgeting for costs associated with any contractual, employment-related, or statutory obligations and liabilities.

The Department of Social Protection, as the lead Department for auto enrolment, has engaged with employers and with Government Departments since the release of the automatic enrolment public consultation in 2018.

Its implementation has been flagged to all those groups since the enactment of the auto-enrolment Act in 2024. Therefore, employers have been given a substantial lead-in period to budget appropriately for its introduction, including through budget negotiation, where appropriate.