Vol. 517 No. 6
77 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the remaining categories of persons with contribution and qualifications for old age pension who do not receive a payment; the plans, if any, he has to extend payment to all such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10554/00]
321 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on whether there are unfair aspects to the special old age contributory pension for the self-employed, particularly for those who were obliged to pay almost the full ten years of contribution and only get half pension and for those who have almost five years of contributions paid and get no pension; and the proposals, if any, he has to deal with this situation. [10805/00]
328 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend pro rata pensions to categories currently unable to obtain pension payment in respect of specific contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10865/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 321 and 328 together.
Significant improvements have been made over the past decade or so, in addressing certain anomalies in the qualifying conditions for old age (contributory) and retirement pensions.
Most recently, in April 1999, I introduced a special old age (contributory) pension for certain self-employed people who were over 56 on 6 April 1988 – when social insurance for the self-employed was introduced – and in this year's Social Welfare Act, I have provided for a special pension which gives further recognition to contributions paid prior to 1953.
To qualify for either of these payments, a person must have paid a minimum of 260 contributions, or five years. These special arrangements represent, I believe, a sympathetic response to the predicament of some people who could not qualify for a pension in accordance with the standard qualifying conditions.
It is reasonable to expect a person to attain a certain level of contributions over their working career in order to qualify for a contributory-based pension. From an equity perspective, a certain contribution threshold must apply. This not only upholds the social insurance principle, firmly supported by successive Governments, but also affirms the expectations and entitlements of those who have a history of strong attachment to social insurance.
My Department has been reviewing the qualifying conditions for the old age (contributory) and retirement pensions. The Department is, at present, finalising a report on the first phase of this review process and I expect to receive this very shortly. I have already confirmed to the House on a number of occasions that when the report has been considered by the Government, I will report to the House at that stage.
