Workers across Longford and Westmeath now saving for post-retirement future

The uptake of a government scheme to prepare people for retired life will have a huge impact on worker's futures.

My Future Fund was introduced to provide workers with access to a quality assured retirement savings scheme, and it commenced on 1 January 2026.

So far 20,985 workers across Longford and Westmeath, who previously had no pension provision, are now saving towards their future through Auto Enrolment Retirement Savings System.

Nationwide, over a quarter of the workforce from more than 104,000 employers have been auto enrolled into My Future Fund and are now saving for their post-retirement future. The sectors who have had the largest percentage of workers auto enrolled include construction, retail, and hospitality.

If you are an employee and do not pay into a pension, you may be automatically included (auto-enrolled) in a new pension scheme from 1 January 2026. The Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has overseen the government roll out of the fund.

Commenting on the uptake, Longford Westmeath Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Robert Troy said: “My Future Fund is truly revolutionary in terms of pensions for Ireland, and for the workers of Longford and Westmeath.

“MyFutureFund will benefit so many hard-working people over the coming years and decades, making sure they have more money in retirement than they otherwise would.”

Minister Troy said the scheme has been flagged for a long time: “First discussed by then Fianna Fáil Minister for Social Protection, Séamus Brennan more than two decades ago, this transformative change has now been delivered by the current Fianna Fáil Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary.”

Additionally, more than 5,000 people have so far opted in to My Future Fund. This includes people who earn less than €20,000 a year, or who are aged 18-22 or 60-66.

Minister Troy went on to say it will give people peace of mind when the time comes to retire:

“This is about giving working people peace of mind and it’s a simple way of knowing that today’s hard work that all employees do, will support them tomorrow. This will provide employees with a solid foundation for their retirement.

Concluding Minister Troy stated: “My Future Fund has started off on a strong footing. It is already supporting hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide so they can plan for their future.

“People in Longford and Westmeath who have no pension cover, and have not been automatically enrolled, may opt in to My Future Fund through the participant portal which can be accessed through myfuturefund.ie.”

Minister Troy said the provisions will have long term impact on the lives of workers: “In Fianna Fáil, we recognise the significant contribution that employees make to our workforce. We are committed to providing working people with a secure pension, and a reliable foundation as they prepare for retired life.”