Total asset values of the Irish pension fund sector grew by 0.4 per cent over Q3 2021 to stand at €129.8 billion, new Central Bank figures show.

Increases in investment fund shares (€616 million) and debt securities (€100 million) accounted for the bulk of asset growth.

This rise was offset by a fall in holdings of pension fund reserves (€576 million).

Despite the fall, pension fund reserves continue to be the largest asset holding, standing at €51.5 billion. 

Irish pension funds held €15.6 billion worth of debt securities at the end of Q3 2021.

The majority of holdings are invested in government bonds (€12 billion), followed by corporate bonds (€3 billion), structured notes (€340 million) and collateralised securities (€226 million). 

Holdings of investment funds stood at €48.9 billion at the end of Q3.

The primary issuer country for investment funds was Ireland (77%), while those issued in Luxembourg accounted for 10.5% of holdings.

This was followed by the United States (5.1%) and the Cayman Islands (3.3%).

Liabilities

Under European Central Bank (ECB) reporting requirements for pension funds, information on assets, liabilities and member numbers must be published in detailed quarterly or annual reporting.

The Central Bank is responsible for the collection of this data in Ireland.

The reporting requirements are mandatory for all pension funds resident in Ireland.