asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has under consideration modifications in the qualifications for old age contributory pensions; if so, the nature thereof; and when they will be introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Contributory Pensions.
78.
No modification in the qualifying contribution conditions for old age contributory pension is at present proposed.
79.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of applicants for contributory old age pensions the number to date who (i) failed to have an average of not less than 24 contributions per contribution year paid or credited to them, or (ii) did not enter insurance before reaching the age of sixty years, or (iii) did not have 156 contributions paid in respect of them as employed contributions.
The numbers are as follows: (i) 8,392. (ii) 659. (iii) 719.
In addition, 3,582 applications failed under two or more conditions, of which 3,012 failed under all three conditions.