Vol. 549 No. 3
322 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on amending the regulations in relation to self-employed old age pension to provide that a person with less than the ten years' contributions required for a full pension will receive a pro-rata pension based on the number of years of contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6768/02]
The issue of people who narrowly failed to qualify for a pension, including self employed people who were already over 56 years in 1988 when compulsory social insurance was introduced for this group was addressed in 1999. These people could not qualify for a pension because they could not satisfy the basic conditions required for pensions purposes, particularly the requirement to have entered insurance ten years before pension age.
A special old age contributory pension was introduced in April 1999 for self employed people who were aged 56 or over in April 1988 and who have, at least, five years' contributions paid since then. Payment is at a flat-rate of 50% of the standard maximum rate with equivalent increases for adult and child dependants, where applicable.
I believe the special arrangement introduced in April 1999 represents a positive and reasonable response to the situation in which this group of people found themselves and there are no plans at present to make further changes.
