O’Shea Welcomes Strong Uptake of Automatic Enrolment Pension Scheme and Encourages Further Participation in Cork
Feb 06, 2026
Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has welcomed the strong uptake of the Automatic Enrolment (AE) Retirement Savings System, My Future Fund, since its introduction on 1st January 2026, describing it as a major step forward in strengthening retirement security for workers.
Deputy O’Shea said that the significant number of people now enrolled nationally, and particularly across Cork, demonstrates a growing awareness of the importance of planning for the future.
“I am very encouraged by the level of engagement with My Future Fund to date. Thousands of workers in Cork are now actively building additional financial security for their retirement through this new system. This shows that people recognise the value of having a reliable and accessible pension arrangement in place.”
The Automatic Enrolment system was introduced to address gaps in pension coverage and to ensure that workers who were not previously contributing to a pension scheme have the opportunity to save regularly in a simple and affordable way, with contributions from both employers and the State.
Deputy O’Shea said that while progress has been positive, there remains an opportunity for many more people to benefit from the scheme. “I would strongly encourage anyone who is not yet enrolled to consider opting in. This is an important opportunity to take control of your financial future and to build up savings that will make a real difference in later life.”
People who wish to opt in to My Future Fund can do so online through the participant portal at www.myfuturefund.ie, or by downloading an opt-in request form from the website and returning it by post to the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA).
Deputy O’Shea concluded by saying “Automatic Enrolment is about giving people peace of mind and dignity in retirement. I will continue to support measures that strengthen pension coverage and ensure that workers in Cork and across the country can look forward to a more secure future.”
