Seymour Crawford
Question:124 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who do not qualify for a contributory old age pension in their own name; and the likely trends in this figure up to 2010. [13529/03]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
At end December 2002, there were approximately 375,000 people aged over 65 and resident in Ireland in receipt of a social welfare payment, either in their own right or as a qualified adult on their spouse or partner's payment. This represents about 86% of the total population over 65 years of age. In relation to retirement and old age contributory pensions, there are about 188,000 recipients and, of these, over 27,000, or 15%, have a qualified adult allowance in payment. Comparable figures for 1993 were approximately 130,000 recipients with 38,000, or 29%, with a qualified adult allowance in payment. During the same period the number of non-contributory old age pensions in payment has fallen from approximately 111,000 to 83,000.
A recent actuarial report on the social insurance fund estimated that there will be a total of 255,000 recipients of old age contributory and retirement pensions by 2011. There are no projections available in relation to qualified adults allowances. However, it is expected that trends in the area of increased workforce participation of women and the effect of the extensions of social insurance in the last thirty years will see a continuation of existing trends with less reliance on means tested payments and more people qualifying for contributory payments in their own right.