The number of people opting to invest in a Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSA) rose by 37 per cent between the end of 2005 and 2006.
According to a report released by the Pensions Board, women are still significantly under-represented in the pension stakes, however. Overall only 37 per cent of those with PRSAs are female, and 63 per cent are male.
Only 38 per cent of standard PRSA contributors are female as opposed to 62 per cent of male contributors. This difference is similarly reflected in those with non-standard PRSAs - 37 per cent female versus 63 per cent male.
The Pensions Board found that 76 per cent of contributors have a Standard PRSA, while 24 per cent have a non-Standard pension.
The figures indicate that since 2003 some 67 per cent of PRSA contributors are aged between 25 and 44 years old, while 44.2 per cent of those with PRSAs are married.
The data shows that the total number of PRSA contributors equates to 11.1 per cent of registered occupational pension scheme members.