Written answer
Programme for Government
The Government reaffirmed that the State Pension age will remain 66 and reported a €10 weekly pension increase, higher Fuel Allowance, an extended 2025/26 season and the Christmas Bonus. It also highlighted MyFutureFund’s launch, with over 835,000 participants, alongside measures to sustain the Social Insurance Fund.
62. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments to support pensioners. [67416/26]
Comment on this
As set out in the Programme for Government 2025, my Department is committed to ensuring that the State Pension remains the bedrock of pension provision in Ireland for older people. We will continue to strengthen the safety net for our older citizens, improving their quality of life and promoting dignity and independence in later years.
At the outset, it is important to reiterate that this Government is committed to maintaining the State Pension Age at 66.
As part of Budget 2026, the maximum weekly rate of all State pensions increased by €10 from January 2026, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and people receiving reduced rates. This brought the maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) for a person aged under 80 to €299.30 per week.
The weekly rate of Fuel Allowance also increased by €5, from €33 to €38, from January 2026. This provides an additional €140 over the Fuel Allowance season to each qualifying household. In March 2026 the Government extended the 2025/26 Fuel Allowance season by four weeks in response to increased energy costs. This provided a further €152 to approximately 470,000 qualifying households. In addition, the Christmas Bonus was paid in December 2025 to eligible long-term social welfare recipients, including State pensioners.
These measures demonstrate the Government’s continuing commitment to supporting pensioners, including through improvements in core weekly payments and targeted supports for household costs.
The Government is also taking steps to safeguard the long-term sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund, from which contributory State pensions are paid. The PRSI Roadmap provides for phased increases in PRSI rates between 2024 and 2028. A further review on the adequacy of PRSI rates will be carried out after the next Actuarial Review of the Fund in 2027.
In January, my Department delivered on the Government's commitment to Introduce the Auto Enrolment Retirement Savings System, known as 'MyFutureFund' which is intended to provide workers with greater comfort and security regarding their retirement savings. There are currently over 835,000 participants in MyFutureFund. The high numbers of participants demonstrates the great level of success that MyFutureFund has achieved since its commencement, and I am extremely proud as Minister to have led on the transformational reform that is MyFutureFund as I believe it will have a positive and lasting impact on peoples’ lives in Ireland for generations to come.
The Government will continue to advance its commitments to support pensioners, while also ensuring that the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund remain sustainable over the longer term.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.