This week the CSO released a new report on the EU SILC survey of income and living conditions of older people in Ireland. Nicola Donnelly, CARDI Communications Officer, take a look:

The latest report from the CSO/EU SILC on the income and living conditions of older people in the Republic of Ireland shows that the gross weekly income of the older population increased more than 48% from €289.05 in 2004 to €428.86 in 2009. It also shows that the at risk of poverty rate for those aged 65 or over was 9.6% down from 27.1% in 2004. The report also highlights significant disparity of 27% in the income of an older person living in an urban area in comparison with an older person living in a rural area. An older person living in rural Ireland had an income of €376.89 compared with €470.61 for an urban dweller.

The report contains encouraging signs that incomes and living conditions for older people in the Republic have been improved significantly in the period 2004-2009 much of which can be attributed to an increase in social transfers. It remains to be seen whether the current economic conditions will erode this progress as social welfare, benefits and service cuts are implemented.

Main Findings: 

-The gross weekly income of the elderly population (those aged 65 or over)

increased from €289.05 in 2004 to €428.86 in 2009, an increase of more

than 48% over the five year period.  

-The increase in weekly gross income of the elderly population between

2004 and 2009 was for the most part attributable to increases in social

transfers (+52.6%) and occupational pensions (+85.8%). 

-Earnings fell as a proportion of gross income from 24.1% in 2004 to 18.3%

in 2009 while the proportion of gross income made up of income from

occupational pensions increased from 12.9% in 2004 to 16.2% in 2009. 

-In 2009 the weekly gross income of an elderly person living in an urban area

was €479.61 compared with €376.89 for an elderly person living in a rural

area, a difference of more than 27%.  

-In 2009 the at risk of poverty rate for those aged 65 or over was 9.6% down

from 27.1% in 2004.  

-The level of enforced deprivation among the elderly population in 2009 was

9.5%, not a statistically significant change on the 2004 figure. In general,

elderly people tended to experience lower levels of enforced deprivation

than other groups in society. 

-The consistent poverty rate for the elderly population fell to 1.1% in 2009

from 3.9% in 2004. This decline in the rate was mainly due to the decline in

the at risk of poverty rate from 27.1% in 2009 to 9.6% in 2004.

Full Report: http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/documents/silc/2009/elderly20042009.pdf