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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

72 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of citizens who do not qualify for a contributory old age pension in their own name; and the likely trends in this figure up to 2010. [20118/01]

According to the latest CSO projections, there are currently an estimated 427,600 persons in the State aged 65 years of age or over. An estimated 35% of this group are in receipt of an old age, contributory, or retirement pension in their own right. In addition an estimated 18% are in receipt of another contributory payment, for example, widow or widowers or invalidity pension in their own right giving an overall 53%.

The remaining 47% comprises broadly those in receipt of old age, non contributory, pension – 21% – other non contributory payments – 5% – people in respect of whom a qualified adult allowance is being paid – 7% – and those not in receipt of any social welfare payment – 14%. It should be noted that these figures are best estimates of the position.
CSO population statistics project that there will be 503,900 people aged 65 or over in 2011. While it is difficult to be precise about the likely numbers who will receive contributory-based payments, the fact that we now have a very comprehensive social insurance system and the improved workforce participation, particularly among women, means that progressively more people will qualify in their own right. This trend is already evident in claims for old age pensions. In 1989 just under 50% of new awards received a contributory based pension and this has risen to over 62%. It is expected that this trend will continue in the future. Applying the projections of the Actuarial Review of Social Welfare Pensions, published in 1997, would suggest that 80% of the projected total population aged 65 or over will be in receipt of a contributory pension by 2011.
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