Vol. 415 No. 8
434 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider relaxing the terms under which partial contributory old age pensions are provided to persons who re-entered compulsory insurance in 1974 having been previously outside of the insurance threshold due to the level of their earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Special pro rata pensions were introduced in 1988 for certain persons who failed to qualify for contributory pension because they were out of insurance for periods prior to 1974 when their earnings exceeded the insurable limit and their yearly average of contributions was less than 20. Under the 1988 arrangements pensions were granted for averages of between five and 20 contributions.
There are no plans to change the existing conditions for entitlement to pensions in these cases.
