About the Pensions Commission

The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 under a Programme for Government commitment to

The Terms of Reference for the Commission, taking account of issues of cross-generational equity, are to:

1. Review the current State Pension arrangements in terms of scheme types (the State contributory and the State non-contributory pensions), eligibility criteria, and trends in numbers qualifying, levels of expenditure, and levels of social insurance contributions, taking account, where relevant, of socio-demographic characteristics (for example, gender)

2. Review the projected changes in demographics, earnings and the labour market, and associated costs – examining information, data and analysis from various sources including the CSO, IFAC, Department of Finance studies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Social Protection, the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund, the EU and the OECD

3. Review previous analyses of the State Pension arrangements and recommendations for changes including those set out in the National Pensions Framework 2010, the OECD Review of Pensions in Ireland 2013 and the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018

4. Review the situation in other countries, the changes they have planned or legislated for and the approaches taken

5. Seek views of recognised experts and representative/advocacy groups by inviting submissions and/or presentations

6. Examine how private sector employment contracts specifying retirement ages below the State Pension Age may be impacting on the State’s finances and pension system

7. Consider how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependants can be accommodated within the State pension system

8. Develop a range of options for the government to consider in order to address the sustainability of the state pension and the Social Insurance Fund in terms of pension age, eligibility criteria, contribution rates, pension calculation methods and pension payment rates

9. Submit a report on its work, findings, options and recommendations to the Minister by 30 June 2021

It should be noted that as part of its remit in item 8 (pension calculation methods), the Commission will examine and consider options to meet the Programme for Government commitment to

The government has established the Pensions Commission in fulfilment of its Programme for Government commitment. The Commission will examine sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission will also consider the issue of retirement ages in employment contracts and consider how the pension system can further accommodate carers.

In accordance with its terms of reference, the Commission will submit a report on its work, findings, options and recommendations to the Minister for Social Protection by 30 June 2021.

The Commission’s work focuses on the need to examine and make recommendations relating to eligibility and sustainability of State Pensions and the Social Insurance Fund.

Its Terms of Reference do not extend to broader pension issues which will not be examined unless they are relevant to its examination of the fiscal and social sustainability of the State pension system and its terms of reference more generally.

It is not within the Commission’s remit to respond to specific pensions queries.

Please see the Contact Us page for details for contacting the Department of Social Protection in relation to general State pension queries.

Membership of the Pensions Commission.