How is Auto Enrolment going in Ireland? September 2026 update

Auto Enrolment first launched on the 1st of January 2026 as Ireland’s revolutionary automatic enrolment retirement savings system. Nine months in and the scheme is delivering real results. Over 800,000 employees have been enrolled and more than €400 million in contributions has already been invested. Despite some employer resistance, the scheme continues to provide a simple and effective path to retirement savings for hundreds of thousands of Irish workers.

This blog is part of a series on Celebrating National Payroll Week 2026: The Numbers Every Payroll Team Should Know.

Enrolment numbers growing steadily

Just one month after launch, over 763,000 employees had been automatically enrolled in MyFutureFund. They were working for almost 104,000 employers across the country. In addition, over 5,000 employees had voluntarily opted into the scheme despite being outside the automatic enrolment criteria.

By July, enrolment had grown further. More than 800,000 people (including approximately 9,000 voluntary participants) were now part of MyFutureFund. This represents growth from the initial launch cohort and shows that the scheme is reaching the workers it was designed to help.

Contributions being invested effectively

Since July 2026, the scheme had achieved even more impressive growth. Over €400 million in contributions had been invested. This represents rapid accumulation of savings across the 800,000 participants. The growth demonstrates both the scale of employee contributions and the matching contributions from employers and the state.

How do employers feel about auto enrolment in Ireland?

The vast majority of employers have embraced MyFutureFund and have registered successfully. Almost 104,000 employers were registered and contributing by February, only one month after the scheme was launched. This high compliance rate shows that most businesses recognise the value of the scheme for their employees.

However, some large employers have attempted to circumvent the scheme. According to an August 2026 Irish Times report, some large companies employing thousands of workers plotted with financial advisers to push staff into inferior pension schemes. These rogue schemes offered contributions as low as 1% from employers with no suggestion of increases over time.

This contrasts sharply with MyFutureFund’s contribution structure which begins at 1.5% from both employee and employer plus 0.5% from the state. The government moved quickly to close loopholes by prescribing pension standards that ensure any workplace scheme outside MyFutureFund must be at least as favourable as MyFutureFund contributions.

How do employees feel about auto enrolment in Ireland?

The opt-out rate has been lower than expected, suggesting strong employee acceptance of the scheme. Most workers have chosen to remain enrolled even after the six-month holding period. The participant portal has seen steady engagement as employees log in to view their growing balances.

For employees, the personal investment experience has been positive. An employee earning €29,432 per year contributes €441.48 from their own wages over twelve months. However, their account grows to over €1,000 when employer and state contributions are combined. This visual demonstration of matched savings has helped convince many workers of the scheme’s value.

Contribution rates and future increases

From the 1st of January 2026, contribution rates started at 1.5% from employees, 1.5% from employers, and 0.5% from the state. These phased rates are designed to allow employers to budget for increasing costs over time.

• From 2029, contributions will increase to 3% from both employee and employer with 1% from the state

• From 2032, rates rise to 4.5% from employee and employer with 1.5% from the state

• Finally, from 2035 onwards, the full rates are 6% from employee and employer and 2% from the state

These increases occur gradually to manage employer costs.

What does auto enrolment mean for the future?

MyFutureFund is proving to be a successful policy after nine months of operation. Over 800,000 workers now have access to a quality-assured retirement savings scheme, and more than €400 million has been accumulated and invested. Employers have largely complied with their obligations.

The government has shown its commitment to protecting the scheme by closing loopholes that employers tried to use. For employees, MyFutureFund offers a simple, low-cost way to begin saving for retirement without having to make complex decisions or set up their own schemes.

As the scheme continues to mature, millions more workers are expected to benefit over the coming years and decades. For payroll professionals and employers, BrightPay Cloud is fully compliant with Auto Enrolment, automating contribution calculations, flagging eligible employees, and automating submissions.

This content may have been developed with the assistance of AI tools. Content is reviewed by a member of the Bright team before publication. Guidance on legislation can be obtained from your industry body.