The Pensions Board says overall pension scheme membership rose by 10% to just under 630,000 last year, but it doubts that pension coverage has kept pace with growth in the workforce.
The regulatory body is currently working on a national survey of pension coverage, but the board's chief executive Anne Maher says it is likely that private pension coverage as a percentage of the workforce is still falling.
She says this further emphasises the importance of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs), being introduced in the new Pensions Bill, for which the Pensions Board will have a regulatory role.
Speaking at the launch of the board's 2000 Annual Report, Ms Maher said most Irish pension schemes were well run, while compliance with regulatory requirements was showing 'slow but steady' improvement.
New chairperson Grainne Clohessy said there was still room for improvement and the board would be agreeing a new strategy for a number of areas in the Autumn.
