ARI

Lobbying Organisation ARI

Date published 16 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Budget 2027 measures affecting older people: State Pension adequacy and benchmarking, Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance, Household Benefits, digital connectivity support and routine hearing tests under the Treatment Benefit Scheme.

Intended results Benchmark the State Pension at 34% of average weekly earnings with a formal uprating mechanism; increase the Living Alone Increase to at least €25; restore Fuel Allowance to 32 weeks; improve Household Benefits and connectivity supports; and include routine hearing tests in the Treatment Benefit Scheme.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Alison Bough Head of Policy & Advocacy Active Retirement Ireland

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

27 May 2026: Active Retirement Ireland submitted its Department of Social Protection Pre-Budget Submission 2027 setting out income-adequacy and social-protection measures for older people.

Event / Reception (1)

1 July 2026, Chartered Accountants House, Dublin: Alison Bough on behalf of Active Retirement Ireland presented ARI's priorities at the Department’s Pre-Budget Forum and raised State Pension benchmarking directly with Minister Dara Calleary TD.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)