Vol. 562 No. 4
432 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she intends to fulfil the promise made in the Programme for Government to remove the requirement for people aged 65 to retire for a period prior to being allowed return to employment. [6180/03]
The retirement pension was introduced in 1970 and was intended to bridge the gap between retirement at 65 and the pension age for social welfare purposes, which at the time was 70 years of age. The qualifying age for old age pension was, over time, subsequently reduced to 66 years of age. The retirement condition now only applies to one year. The Government is committed, as part of An Agreed Programme for Government, to removing the requirement to retire at 65 in order to receive a retirement pension. Progress in this regard will be made as soon as possible, having regard to the availability of resources and the priority attaching to other elements of the Government programme.
433 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the contribution record of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, including those from their old insurance number when this person worked in the 1950s; if this person receives credits for the period spent in receipt of farm assist for over ten years; and if this person's record will enable them to qualify for a retirement pension. [6207/03]
My Department has no record of Irish social insurance contributions having been paid by the person concerned and, consequently, she does not qualify for a retirement pension. Her application indicated that she has worked in the UK. The necessary information has been issued to the UK authorities so her entitlement to a British retirement pension can be examined. She will be advised directly by the UK Department of Social Security of the position under their legislation. She is not entitled to credited contributions for the periods during which she has been in receipt of unemployment assistance and farm assist. It is open to her to apply for non-contributory old age pension three months prior to reaching the age of 66. On receipt of her application at that stage, her entitlement will be examined and she will be notified of the outcome.
