In the Irish case, the flat rate structure of the basic state pension, together with our current relatively favorable demographic structure, has so far resulted in a much smaller fiscal burden from age-related expenditure. Nevertheless, on the basis of current policies, agerelated public expenditure in Ireland is set to increase significantly in the decades ahead.
4  BIS Review 25/2008  Total pension expenditure by the state is set to increase from 4.6 per cent of GDP in 2005 to 7.9 per cent in 2030 and further to 11.1 per cent of GDP in 2050, according to the latest Department of Finance estimates. As you will be aware, some pension reforms have already been adopted in Ireland.