Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the proportion of people with pension cover in different sectors of the economy. [25999/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent results from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Quarterly National Household Survey show a 0.9% point decline in supplementary pensions coverage from 52.4% of the working population aged 20-69 in quarter 1 of 2004 to 51.5% in the same quarter of 2005. The decline is within the margin of error for the survey so the position appears to be that there was little change in the rate of supplementary pensions coverage over the period in question. Workers aged 35 to 44 have the highest rate of coverage at 61.3%. The survey also shows that 43% of those in self-employment aged 20-69 have private pension cover.

Pensions coverage for women increased from 46.8% in 2004 to 47.5% in 2005. Even though the coverage rate for men fell between 2004 and 2005 from 56.3% to 54.2%, men continue to have a higher rate of coverage than women. The coverage rate for women is also below the overall average for the workforce as a whole. The reasons for this may be quite varied and could, for instance, include issues such as the interrupted nature of many women's working careers, the disparity in male and female earnings, which may make pensions less affordable for women, and the number of women who work reduced or part-time hours.

Data in relation to pensions coverage in different sectors of the economy relate to Quarter 1 2002 and are outlined in the table below. The CSO will publish updated information on pensions coverage for Quarter 4 of 2005 later this year.