The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Made: 1st April 2026

Coming into operation: 1st May 2026

In accordance with section 3(5) of the 2014 Act, the Department of Finance[^f00003] has consented to the making of these Regulations.

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 and come into operation on 1st May 2026.

Amendment to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

2

• (1) The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015[^f00004] shall be amended as follows.

• (2) In regulation 118 (Member contributions)—

• (a) In paragraph (2), after “scheme employment” insert “beginning with 1st April 2015 and ending 30th April 2026”.

• (b) after paragraph (2) insert—

(2A) The contribution rate applicable to a scheme employment beginning with 1st May 2026 is as specified in the following table, with the contribution rate specified in the second column to be considered applicable to the band of pensionable pay specified in the first column into which the active member’s actual annual pensionable pay falls:

• (c) for paragraph (3), substitute—

(3) The amount of pensionable pay of a retained or volunteer firefighter— (i) for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2) must be that firefighter’s reference pay for the period beginning with 1st April 2015 to 30th April 2026; (ii) for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2A) must be that firefighter’s actual annual pensionable pay beginning with 1st May 2026.

• (d) for paragraph (4), substitute—

(4) The amount of pensionable pay of a part-time regular firefighter— (i) for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2) must be the amount of pensionable pay of a whole-time regular firefighter of equivalent role and length of service for the period beginning with 1st April 2015 to 30th April 2026; (ii) for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2A) must be that firefighter’s actual annual pensionable pay beginning with 1st May 2026.

• (e) after paragraph (4) insert—

(4A) The figures in the first column of the table in paragraph (2A) are to be increased at the beginning of each scheme year starting with the scheme year 2027/28, if there is a relevant increase in the consumer prices index or, should the Department decide, any other index of the general level of prices in the United Kingdom, by the appropriate percentage for the scheme year rounded up to the nearest £1. (4B) For the purposes of paragraph (4A)— (a) there is a relevant increase in the consumer prices index, or any other index of the general level of prices in the United Kingdom, for a scheme year if the index for the month of September before that scheme year is higher than that for the previous September; (b) the appropriate percentage for the scheme year is the same percentage as any percentage increase in the consumer prices index, or any other index of the general level of prices in the United Kingdom decided by the Department, over the period specified by sub-paragraph (a); (c) the “consumer prices index” means the general index of consumer prices (for all items) published by the Statistics Board, a body corporate established by section 1 of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007; (d) where there is a relevant increase after 1st April 2027, the figures to be increased on the relevant date are the figures applicable to the previous scheme year.

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 1st April 2026.

Jim Wilkinson — A senior officer of the — Department of Health

The Department of Finance consents to the foregoing Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 1st April 2026.

Patrick Neeson — A senior officer of the — Department of Finance

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations makes amendments to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2)(b) updates the annual pensionable earnings bands and the rates payable at each level beginning with 1st May 2026.

Regulation 2(2)(c) amends regulation 118(3) so that the amount of pensionable pay of a retained or volunteer firefighter used to determine the annual pensionable earnings band must be that firefighter’s actual annual pensionable pay beginning with 1st May 2026.

Regulation 2(2)(d) amends regulation 118(4) so that the amount of pensionable pay of a part-time regular firefighter used to determine the annual pensionable earnings band must be that firefighter’s actual annual pensionable pay beginning with 1st May 2026.

Regulation 2(2)(e) introduces an automatic increase to the annual pensionable earnings bands by the relevant increase in the Consumer Price Index or a similar index.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, see 2016 c.5 (N.I.).

[^f00002]: 2014 c.2. (NI). Section 3 was amended by section 94(11) to (14) of the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7).

[^f00003]: Formerly the Department of Finance and Personnel, see 2016 c.5 (N.I.).

[^f00004]: S.R. 2015 No. 78, amended by S.R. 2015 No. 420, S.R. 2022 No. 155, S.R. 2024 No. 130 and S.R. 2024 No. 218.