Over 6,000 former employees of CIÉ are demanding an increase in their pensions after 16 years without any adjustments. A freeze in payments was implemented by the company following the economic crash in 2008, halting both pay and pension increases. Although staff pay was restored in 2016, retirees have been left without any increase. Approximately 2,000 retirees have urged Minister for Finance Jack Chambers to address an issue preventing them from accessing State pension benefits. CIÉ Salaried Pensioners’ Association Assistant Secretary, Noreen Coughlan, argues that these pensioners, who played a vital role in serving the company and the country, deserve fair treatment and an increase in their pensions.
A recent actuarial analysis of the pension schemes found that sustainable increases of around 2.5% can be supported, but CIÉ disputes this, citing advice from their own pension scheme actuary. However, pensioners are adamant that there is room for modest increases. Christy Murphy, an 82-year-old CIÉ pensioner from Tralee, is among those affected by the frozen pensions and PRSI anomalies, which have left retirees struggling without access to State pension benefits.
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