Retirees at An Post and Eir to bring pension protest to the Dáil 

Communications Workers’ Union say 20,000 retired staff and their dependents awaiting ministerial sign-off on pension increases

A postal worker collecting letters.  A protest will take place at the Dáil next Tuesday at delays in paying pension increases to more than 20,000 pensioners who worked at An Post and Eir. Picture: Dan Linehan

A protest will take place at the Dáil next Tuesday to vent frustrations at delays in paying pension increases to more than 20,000 pensioners who worked at An Post and Eir. 

The Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) will lead the protest at Kildare Street on Tuesday February 10 at 1pm. The CWU says that agreed pension increases for retired staff of Eir and An Post are being delayed because the communications minister has not yet given formal approval. The union says that all required processes having been completed by unions, trustees, actuaries and company boards.

“There is no financial justification whatsoever for this delay," said CWU general secretary Seán McDonagh. "Previous pension increases have been paid on every occasion, a position reinforced by recent High Court judgements. Yet despite the robust governance that is in place for these pension schemes, including independent actuarial oversight and established processes, pensioners are once again being subjected to needless bureaucratic delays with Minister Patrick O’Donovan’s office unable, or unwilling, to give any timeline for a decision on when his approval to pay these pension increases may be forthcoming.”

Ministerial approval by the communications minister with the concurrence of the public expenditure minister is a requirement for the An Post and Eir workers’ pension schemes, dating back to the Postal & Telecommunications Act 1983. In October 2025, An Post wrote to the department requesting consent for an increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions. Total increases will be 7%.

Mr O’Donovan has sent the proposed increases to the New Economy and Recovery Authority, an advisory which is part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), for review.

A spokesperson for the minister said: “Whilst it is not possible, at this point, to set out the specific timeframe within which the decision-making process will be concluded by both shareholding ministers in respect of increases submitted for consent, the department is actively working to conclude the required approval process.” The spokesperson noted consent of public expenditure Jack Chambers will also be required for the pension increase in the event that the Minister gives his approval. “It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place,” the spokesperson added.

But Mr McDonagh said increases for these former workers are critical to maintaining a basic standard of living, particularly in the face of rising energy, housing and healthcare costs.

According to a CWU spokesperson, a postman with 40 years services who gets a driving allowance and starts work at 7am can expect an average pension of around €360 per week. "The pension increase of 7% that he is entitled to but which is being delayed amounts to around €25 per week, or €1,300 per year which is a lot of money for someone on a fixed income," the spokesperson said.

The CWU is also highlighting a delay in approvals for superannuation pension payments to 60 postal workers who retired on health grounds. The CWU said there is a two-and-a-half-year delay in pension payments "which would cost less than €10,000 per year to a fund valued at €3bn, and with a surplus of €383m as of December 31, 2025".