The SPNC is currently payable from age 66, with a maximum rate of EUR 237 per week for a single person, i.e. 31.5 percent of average earnings.
The contribution conditions for the SPC are that recipients have started paying social insurance before reaching age 56 and they also have paid at least 520 full-rate insurance contributions if reaching 66 after April 6, 2012.
[3] When looking at the coverage of public and private pension programs, SPC and SPNC cover 46 percent of the workforce, and SPT and occupational or private pension covers 37 percent of the workforce, which is a result from striking differences in industries and occupations.
[4] Raab and Gannon point out how "occupational pensions are generally not mandatory, except in the public sector, and that 55 percent of professionals are able to expect a firm's pension but the corresponding share for sales people is 23 percent".
[4] The Irish pension policies are designed to offer incentives for labor participation but are still reforming to the changes in the economy.
The Irish state pension is designed to give a basic retirement income.
[6] To qualify for the Non-Contributory State Pension one must be a habitual resident of Ireland and pass means test.
[6] In July 2024, the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024 was passed through the Dáil by minister Heather Humphreys with Tata Consultancy Services being named as the preferred bidder to run the system.
This means that the amount of tax payable on a Social Security pension is deducted from other income.