asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in Cork who has been a social welfare contributor for the last eight years has been deprived of an old age pension now because he was a contributor for a previous period in 1954, and that he was, therefore, debarred from entitlement because of the average clause in the regulations; and if he will amend the regulations to remove this injustice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
20.
The person concerned, who will attain age 65 years on 20 May 1981, has applied to my Department for a retirement pension. As he will not have the required minimum average of 24 contributions paid or credited he will not qualify for pension from that date. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance and if he continues to be unemployed he will, however, qualify for unemployment benefit from 20 May 1981. On attaining age 66 on 20 May 1982 he will by that time have an average of 21 contributions paid or credited and will accordingly qualify for old age contributory pension from that date.
A condition requiring an average of contributions is a feature of retirement pension schemes generally and it is not proposed to remove this condition from the existing schemes of old age contributory pension and retirement pension.