PENSIONS BOARD TO ATTEND OFF THE RAILS, RDS

“A pension should be an essential accessory for all women”

Wednesday 15 November 2006: The Pensions Board will attend the ‘Off The Rails’ fashion and beauty show at the RDS this weekend (17th – 19th November), where they will be highlighting the importance for women to start a pension at the event. Pensions coverage overall for the female workforce stands at 47.5%, compared to 54.2% for men.

Speaking today, Ms Mary Hutch, Head of Information and Training, Pensions Board said: “The message for women throughout Ireland is simple. We are living longer and therefore we need to be especially conscious of how we will finance a good quality of life during our retirement. Women tend to have a more fragmented career path and tend to earn less than men, factors which make women more vulnerable to poverty, especially in their later years. So I would encourage all women who attend the Off the Rails event this weekend to seek out our information stand and pick up a copy of the Women & Pensions booklet and make a pension your essential accessory”.

Pensions Board representatives will be distributing an updated version of the ‘Women and Pensions’ booklet to attendees at the Off the Rails event. The booklet describes all of the ways in which women can provide financial security for themselves and their dependants in retirement. The booklet also explains what happens to pension benefits in the event of marital breakdown, moving jobs, carer breaks and maternity, adoptive, parental or carers leave. At the Off the Rails event the Pensions Board will also be highlighting the need for self-employed women to start a pension, with around 6% of female workers in Ireland being self-employed.

The Pensions Board is encouraging women to also visit the on-line Pensions Calculator and work out their future pension needs on www.pensionsboard.ie and to talk to their employer about a pension or go directly to their bank, insurance company or financial advisor and find out about starting a pension today.

ENDS/

Media Queries:

Mary Hutch
Head of Information and Training
The Pensions Board
Tel: (01) 6131900

Jackie Gallagher / Mark Leech
Q4 Public Relations
Tel: 01 4751444
Mobiles: 087 2371838 / 087 9053679

Notes:

About the Pensions Board
The Pensions Board is the statutory body set up to regulate occupational pension schemes and PRSAs and to advise the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and through him, the Government, on overall pension policy development.

Pension Information
The Pensions Board has a range of information booklets on pensions matters including a comprehensive booklet on “Women and Pensions”. All of the booklets are available online on at www.pensionsboard.ie and from LoCall 1890 65 65 65.