The Irish Pensions Experience Chinese Delegation Friday 7 November 2008 David Malone Head of Information Services The Pensions Board

Established by the Pensions Act, 1990 Main functions are set out in the Act and include –to monitor and supervise the operation of the Act and pension developments generally Board has 2 statutory roles – regulatory and policy Promoting pensions development, information and awareness is an associated support function. Board conducts the National Pensions Awareness Campaign (NPAC) on behalf of Government as recommended in the “Securing Retirement Income” report of the National Pensions Policy Initiative published in 1998

The Pensions Board Focus Three key operational areas: Supervision, regulation and enforcement Policy, legal and actuarial Information and awareness

 Company Pension Scheme (99,802 schemes with 800,398 members) (66% DB schemes and 34% DC schemes)  Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) (Over 140,000 PRSAs with asset value of €1.24 billion- June 2008) (86,613 employers had signed up with a PRSA provider )  Personal Pension Plans and Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs) (In excess of 200,000 contracts – Irish Insurance Federation)  Fund assets in excess of €90 billion Voluntary regime for supplementary pension provision Types of Irish Private Pensions

Why have a pension?  Provision of regular income to replace earnings in retirement, or early retirement due to ill-health  Provision of lump sum benefit income for surviving dependants  Tax Reliefs Income Tax and PRSI relief on employee contributions Employer contributions not taxed as BIK (unless paid to PRSA) Pension schemes do not pay income or capital gains tax on investment returns. Part of your retirement benefit may be paid as tax-free cash sum

Tax Relief on Personal Contributions The maximum contribution rate as a percentage of total pay/net relevant earnings on which you can receive tax relief is: Highest age at any time during the tax year Limit Under 30 15% % % % % 60 and over 40% Notes: Contributions will also be relieved from the PRSI and the Health Levy, if you pay these charges. For tax purposes these contributions are limited to earnings up to a maximum of €254,000 in any year.

Changing world we live in We are Living Longer More Contract Work More mobility in careers Changing work patterns More Part Time Working Single Parent Households Smaller Families Separation/Divorce

Changing demographics No’s at Work 2,000,1002,268,0002,125,000 Aged over ,000844,0001,532,000 No’s at work per person over

Where will your income come from when you retire? The current state social welfare pension is € per week (or € 11,611 per year) …….will this be enough to meet all your needs in retirement? Almost 80% of the Pensions Board Consumer Research sample said that the State old age pension would NOT meet their needs in retirement

National Pensions Action Campaign 2008

NPAC messages Emphasis on personal responsibility Workplace ideal location for engaging with pensions Call to direct action – Talk to your employer, trade union, bank, building society, insurance company or financial advisor about starting a pension

The Pensions message Simplify the message  Affordability  Portability  More straight forward than you think  Employers obligations

National Pensions Awareness Campaign Support Agencies promoting NPAC Contact was made with the wide range of support Agencies who are assisting in delivering the NPAC message to their constituent clients and members. These include: Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) Small Firms Association (SFA) Chambers of Commerce in Ireland (CCI) Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (ISME) Institute of Personnel and Development Other organisations and group involved in this process include: Citizen Information Centres Irish Farmers Association / Irish Country Women’s Association National Library Network Rural Leader Groups Area Partnership Companies Irish Hotels Federation Licensed Vintners Association Restaurants Association of Ireland

Pensions in the workplace A good pension scheme has been long recognised as a very valuable asset for both the company and its employees. There is a stronger commitment from employees to participate in pension schemes where the employer makes a contribution. A company benefits from having: –a reputation and respect as a good employer. –a workforce that feels valued and important –increased loyalty and commitment from staff –an enhanced staff recruitment, reward and retention package

Employers’ Obligations/ Opportunity Access for all Employees –By law an employer must provide ALL employees with some form of access to a pension, whether they are in full-time, part-time, temporary, contract or casual employment. –All employers regardless of the size of their workforce are obliged to provide access to a Standard PRSA if those employees fall into the category of “excluded employees” (details available on the Board’s website). –Pensions Board encourages employers to regard pensions as part of the recruit, reward & retain approach to staff –Pensions Board also encourages all employees to ask the employer about their pension rights

Financial Planning Education Initiatives The Pensions Board is directly involved in the following educational related initiatives: Joint ventures with FAS and Fáilte Ireland (National State Training Authorities) National Recruitment Federation with over 100 private sector recruitment agency members Information stands at education events

Challenges – Pensions aren’t exciting! Key barriers to pension take-up included: Heavy complicated pensions language Absence of pensions from mainstream consumer media Absence of pensions from general conversation

Case-study Agriculture and Rural Sector rd lowest pension coverage of all sectors at 32% Strategy to understand and communicate directly with this audience Activities joint venture with farming associations advertising and editorial coverage in farming publications conducted promotional activities at farming events Result 2008 saw pension coverage rates in this sector at 45%

More information….. The Board’s website for Information – Checklists - Calculators Contact us by phone or on

We all have a responsible role to play in….. ….actively promoting pensions take up !