Ireland’s long-anticipated auto-enrolment pension scheme has been pushed back once again, this time to January 2026.
Once implemented, the scheme will automatically enrol eligible employees (aged 23–60 and earning €20,000 or more) who are not already in a pension scheme, aiming to close the pension savings gap across the workforce.
Key features of the Irish scheme
Employee contributions will start at 1.5% of gross pay, rising every three years to 6%.
Employer contributions will match employee contributions.
For every €3 the employee contributes, the state adds €1.
Administered centrally by the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA).
While the UK already has auto-enrolment, Ireland’s version introduces different contribution models and governance. If you manage cross-border payroll, be sure your processes are ready to support both frameworks.
You can read the full announcement here.