Government confirms delay of pension auto-enrolment

The Government has confirmed that the start date for pension auto-enrolment is to be delayed from 30 September 2025 to 1 January 2026.
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary said the commencement of the collection of contributions for the automatic enrolment retirement savings system, called My Future Fund, was being moved to align the new system with the standard tax year.
He said it is also being delayed to give additional time for payroll providers, especially smaller providers, to ready their systems for the launch and to give additional lead-in time for employers, particularly small and micro businesses, to ensure they can be compliant with the legislation from the start.
The new scheme is designed to help over 800,000 workers to begin saving for their retirement.
All employees not already in an occupational pension scheme, aged between 23 and 60 and earning over €20,000 across all of their employments, will be automatically enrolled in the new scheme.
It will be gradually phased in over a decade, with both employer and employee contributions starting at 1.5% and increasing every three years by 1.5% until they eventually reach 6% by year 10.
The State will top up contributions by €1 for every €3 saved by the employee. This is in addition to the €3 that will also be contributed by the employer.
Eligible employees will be automatically enrolled but will have the choice after six months participation to opt-out or suspend participation.
"My Future Fund will help hundreds of thousands of hardworking people in Ireland put money aside for their life after work. It is important that we start on the right foot and bring all stakeholders along with us," Mr Calleary said.
"Deferring the collection of contributions for a short period of time is the right decision, acknowledging points raised through the extensive and ongoing consultation work as the operational and payroll systems are being built," he added.

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