Auto-Enrolment Delayed Until January 2026

The Government has confirmed that the implementation of Ireland’s new Auto-Enrolment (AE) pension scheme will be delayed until 1 January 2026, providing welcome breathing room for charities and non-profit organisations preparing for this significant change.

The scheme had been due to commence in September 2025, but the delay—approved by Cabinet and confirmed by Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary—is intended to align AE with the tax year and give additional time for payroll systems, particularly in smaller organisations, to get ready.

This short postponement follows feedback from across sectors, including employers and payroll providers, who had expressed concerns about readiness for the original timeline.

For many charities Auto-Enrolment represents a major operational and compliance change, introducing mandatory retirement savings for eligible employees for the first time.

This delay gives organisations more time to:

• Review which staff will be affected by AE.
• Decide whether to use the State system or an existing pension plan.
• Communicate the changes effectively to staff.
• Engage with trustees, payroll providers, and pension administrators.

Despite the new timeline, the Government is urging all organisations to continue preparing now. AE will bring added compliance responsibilities and increased payroll costs over time. For charities, where resources and capacity may be limited, early planning is crucial to understand the potential cost and operational impact of auto-enrolment, engage the board and management team on key strategic decisions, and begin internal discussions on how best to support and inform staff ahead of the new implementation date.

You can learn more and access helpful resources on Auto-Enrolment from Mercer Ireland by clicking here.