Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the areas he has asked the pensions board to look into with regard to increasing pension coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22919/05]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts he is making to address inadequate pension provision here; his views on whether the issue is now developing into a major crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23021/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to encourage more women to take up pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22914/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the number of persons in the total workforce who are covered by pensions; the percentage of these that are covered by PRSAs; the breakdown of the pension coverage by pension type; if he will provide information on the ages of persons availing of PRSAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22933/05]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the slow progress towards the 70% national target for pension coverage for persons over 30 agreed by the social partners and the Government; the precise national figure for pension coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23022/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who have taken out PRSAs since the scheme began; the breakdown of the number of new PRSAs opened each year; the percentage of PRSA holders who are making a sufficient level of contribution to allow them to maintain a similar lifestyle on retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23527/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his preferred options in respect of pension plans for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24155/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 6, 40, 70, 83, 85, 369 and 389 together.

It is Government policy to encourage people to participate in occupational and private pension arrangements, so they can maintain their pre-retirement standard of living when they retire. To this end, a range of measures has been introduced in recent years including personal retirement savings accounts, or PRSAs, mandatory employer PRSA access where occupational schemes are not available, as well as an ongoing national pensions awareness campaign.

CSO figures for the first quarter of 2004 show that 52.4% of persons in employment have a supplementary pension. Out of a national workforce of around 2 million people, an estimated 900,000 do not have a private or occupational pension to boost their incomes in retirement. The coverage rate for women is 46.8% against 56.3% for men and it is clearly a situation which must be improved to ensure people make adequate provision for their retirement.

The key target group for Government action in the supplementary pensions area represents those who are 30 years of age and over. The national pensions policy initiative suggested that up to 70% of this group will need to supplement their social welfare pension to maintain living standards in retirement. The most recent CSO figures suggest that 59.1% of people in this group have the necessary pension cover, a small increase on the 2002 figure of 57.4%.

Over the past three years the pensions board has run a national pensions awareness campaign which is designed to increase awareness of pensions issues among the public and to encourage pensions take up. A total of €1 million was spent on the campaign through 2003 and 2004 and further resources have been allocated to facilitate the campaign in the current year.

As well as raising general awareness, the campaign has also focused on areas of the country and sections of the population with lower levels of pensions take-up. The 2004 campaign featured a number of special promotions aimed specifically at women. There is no doubt that progress on pensions coverage is being made as there has been a steady increase in the number of people taking out PRSAs and in those participating in occupational schemes. The latest figures from the pensions board show that almost 51,000 PRSAs have been taken out up to the end of March 2005. Just under 80% of these are standard PRSAs with the remainder being non-standard.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The most recent data on the age profile of PRSA contributors relate to December 2004 and indicate that just under 50% are aged 35 or over, with 9% under 25. It is not possible to comment on the adequacy of the contributions being made as information on the income and contributions of individuals is not available. However, overall pensions coverage is increasing at a lower rate than is desirable. The reasons for this are many and varied and include issues of affordability and the fact that many people feel they are too young to consider pension provision.

In February 2005 I asked the pensions board to commence work on a comprehensive review of our overall pensions strategy in advance of the previous timeframe of September 2006. A one-size fits all retirement regime may not best reflect the needs and wishes of Irish people in the 21st century. The review encompasses an examination of the main strategic recommendations contained in the national pensions policy initiative including those relating to the adequacy of income in retirement, coverage targets, levels of social welfare pensions, sustainability of State pensions and the tax support for private and occupational pensions. The review is also examining the question of alternative ways of addressing adequacy and coverage issues. The role the State might have in future pension provision is also being examined.

At this stage I am not examining any particular measures but I am waiting on the conclusions of the pensions board before deciding on further action in this area. However, some type of mandatory regime is always an option and the pensions board is looking at this with particular regard to the position in other countries. I am aware of the potential of maturing SSIAs as a way of increasing pensions coverage and I have also asked the pensions board to look at how we might tap into the savings habit that has been created to develop attractive pension-based savings initiatives.

Work on the review is ongoing and I am anxious to ensure that it is completed in the shortest possible timescale so I can review the position and decide what further action is required in this area. I expect to receive the report of the pensions board in September. This report will take account of the various submissions made to the board. Governments abroad are trying to deal with the challenge of funding pensions for an older population that is generally living longer and healthier lives. The situation here is by no means a crisis. The demographic situation remains favourable for the next ten years or so and this allows us time to address the issues surrounding our pensions system. It is essential, however, that we take action sooner rather than later so we can deliver on our commitment to ensure an adequate retirement income for all.