Focus on dearth of rural pensions

Low levels of pensions provision in the agricultural sector will be the focus of a new campaign by the Pensions Board next week.

Officials from the board will attend the National Ploughing Championships in Mogeely, Co Cork from September 27th-29th to give information on pensions to visitors at the event.

The number of people without private pension provision dips dramatically outside urban areas, according to research by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Results published by the CSO last year show that 52.4 per cent of workers between the ages of 20 and 69 have some form of pension and will not have to rely solely on State pensions in retirement. However, in some rural areas, the figure is 45 per cent.

Mary Hutch, head of information and training for the Pensions Board, said the rural-urban discrepancy in pensions coverage levels could be partly attributed to higher levels of part-time, seasonal and contract working patterns in rural areas, especially among women.

"Also, there is a higher level of employment dependency on the hospitality, retail and farming sectors, where traditionally pension coverage levels are low," Ms Hutch said.

CSO figures show that 53.2 per cent of women are not covered by a private pension, compared with 43.7 per cent of men. Women are also less likely to top up their pensions with additional voluntary contributions (AVCs). In the agri-sector, the pensions gap between men and women increases even further.

The Pensions Board said women's heightened vulnerability needs to be addressed.