Vol. 406 No. 7
156 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of pensioners who will be eligible for contributory pensions in Ireland for each year up to the year 2000; the estimated amount required to meet such payment demand for each year.
The total number of old age contributory and retirement pensioners at the end of 1990 was approximately 123,000. The number has increased by 14 per cent in the decade 1980-90. Pension cover was extended to self-employed persons in 1988, and is now being extended also to part-time workers. These developments will ensure a continuation of the upward trend in recipients of contributory pensions. As a consequence the numbers who will have to rely on a non-contributory pension will continue to decline.
