asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an applicant in County Meath (name supplied) was refused a contributory old age pension. if he will state the number of contributions paid by this applicant since he entered employment in 1923; and and if he will have the case reconsidered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension Applicant.
11.
The applicant in this case failed to satisfy the statutory contribution conditions for the award of a contributory old age pension which require a person to have a yearly average of not less than 24 contributions paid or credited.
The number of contributions paid by the applicant since he entered insurance in January, 1924, is 1,203, but 1,049 of these were paid under the former National Health Insurance Acts. In the case in question there were only 282 contributions reckonable for old age contributory pension purposes as the relevant contribution period was from July, 1950, to December, 1969.
Could the Minister tell me if all those contributions, over 1,000, which the man paid are now of any value to him?
Yes. At the time the scheme was formulated it was arranged that a large number of these would be reckonable in most cases, This was before the Department took over control of the national insurance scheme.
Would the Minister not consider that it would be appropriate to make some arrangement to allow a man who has obviously contributed a great deal in social insurance contributions to get a contributory old age pension?
This case has been made from time to time but the arrangements that were made have always been regarded as sufficiently generous in relation to those payments. They are becoming less and less relevant as time goes on.
Regarded as sufficiently generous by whom? Just because there is a decreasing number of them does not mean that the hardship is any less.
If the Deputy examines the scheme he will find they are very well provided for in relation to these payments.