Last SSIA's mature this week
Thousands of people will be sampling the fruits of five-years of hard saving as the final SSIA accounts mature this week.
After years of planning and dreaming, investors throughout the country, many of whom signed up to the scheme just days before it closed in 2002, are expected to receive an average payout of €14,000 each.
Set up in 2001 to encourage citizens to start saving, contributors could have put away as little as €12.50 or as much as €254 per month, while the Government paid a 25% bonus on the amount saved.
About 1.1 million accounts were opened in the 12-month slot allocated by the Government between April of 2001 and 2002 in a scheme which also helped curb consumer spending amid fears of an inflation spike.
At the time the scheme was unveiled, however, its five-year time frame was seen as a Government gimmick to ensure re-election by providing voters with a windfall ahead of polling day.
Despite an initial sluggish reaction, more than €200m a month has been saved by account holders since the initiative began, leading to around €15bn being pumped into the economy as the savings schemes matured during the last two years.
Financial institutions and retailers are currently bombarding the final tranche of SSIA holders with options on what to do with their savings which become available on Tuesday.
Since the SSIA scheme began there have been fears that as the funds matured the flood of spare cash might lead to spending splurges.
A survey last spring by the Financial Regulator found only 10% of people planned to use their SSIA money to pay off debts.
Others intended to spend the cash on home improvements, cars and holidays.
But former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy - the man behind the scheme - would no doubt be buoyed by new research indicating the majority of people now want to continue saving instead.
Chairman of the Irish Consumers Association Dermot Jewell suggested the SSIA programme has had largely positive results and he believed there was a certain amount of scaremongering concerning over-spending.
"In general it seems to be the case that there are a significant number of factors that have led to people becoming cautious, such as increased mortgage costs, and higher interest rates." he said.
He added many people did spend when the initial accounts matured last year, but did so on investments like house extensions and home improvements.
"Those who did actually splurge, splurged the 25% Government top-up on their families."
Mr Jewell added that regardless of how much was put away each month by savers throughout the last five years, people were now more aware about what they could do with their money.
