I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is not held by the Department of Social Protection. The Department holds information on persons in receipt of State pension (contributory) and State pension (non-contributory) the details of which over the past 5 years are below.
The table shows the numbers of applicants for state pension over the past five years. It is not possible to state, with any certainty, how many of these people have retired.
Year
|
State pension non-contributory applications received
|
State pension contributory applications received
|
2021
|
8,492 (up to 9 December)
|
39,336 (up to 9 December)
|
2020
|
8,789
|
38,348
|
2019
|
8,766
|
38,519
|
2018
|
9,053
|
38,137
|
2017
|
9,187
|
35,951
|
2016
|
9,213
|
34,894
|