CPAS: Pension Update: 2025 In review and what to look out for in 2026

Ireland's private-sector auto-enrolment pension scheme, My Future Fund, made significant strides in 2025, with employer and employee contributions now slated to commence in early 2026. A last-minute legislative update mandates occupational pension schemes to provide a minimum total contribution rate of 3.5% of gross remuneration for exemption from auto-enrolment, a move raising concerns among employer representatives. Employers must closely monitor the final minimum standard test for existing pension schemes in 2026. The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 is nearing completion, establishing a framework for employees wishing to work until state pension age (66). Concurrently, the Standard Fund Threshold (SFT) will increase by €200,000 annually from 2026 to 2029, benefiting higher earners. In 2025, the Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS) marked its 60th anniversary, with survey results expected in early 2026, offering insights into member and employer engagement. Read More