Vol. 466 No. 6
120 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he intends to introduce the provisions recommended by the National Pensions Board in relation to pensions for self-employed persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12024/96]
The National Pensions Board in its final report, Developing the National Pension System, puts forward, inter alia, a number of recommendations relating to eligibility for old age pensions generally, including proposals for a wider range of pro-rata pensions related to the average number of contributions over an insured's lifetime. However, they also recommended that the number of paid contributions required to qualify for an old age contributory pension be increased from 156 — three years — to 520 — ten years — contributions. The report and its recommendations are being studied within the Department at present with a view to bringing forward proposals in a budgetary context. Any such proposals would have to take account of the future funding of pensions.
