Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2023

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

Questions (127)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

127. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 13 July 2023, if, in relation to RTÉ pensioners, many of whom are surviving on low to middle incomes, she intends to sanction RTÉ to release funds so that the pensions' trustees can pay out the pension increase, which has been frozen for a number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43088/23]

Written answers

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

I previously considered and approved a 2% increase to pensions in payment for RTÉ in May 2022, which was implemented by the Trustees of the RTÉ Pension Scheme in August 2022.

The Trustees subsequently made an application, in September 2022, for a 2.5% increase to pensions in payment, backdated to 1 January 2022. This request has been evaluated by NewERA and I am currently considering it. My recommendation will then be subject to the review and approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

The Trustees of the RTÉ Pension scheme also made an application, in September 2023, for a 4.0% increase to pensions in payment, backdated to 1 January 2023. This request has been sent to NewERA for their evaluation and I am awaiting their response.