Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 3

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Seán Ryan

Question:

359 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the current requirements for entitlements for retirement and old age contributory pensions with particular reference to full rate social insurance contributions or credits from 1955; and if she will consider reducing the average yearly requirements with a pro rata reduction in payments. [28425/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

In recent years, the Government has introduced a number of measures designed to make qualification for pensions easier for people with reduced or broken insurance records. These measures can be of particular benefit to women who may not have complete social insurance records.

In 1997, the average yearly number of contributions required for a minimum pension was reduced from 20 contributions to ten.Pro rata pensions are also available for people with insurance contributions at different rates or from other EU countries or countries with whom Ireland has signed a bilateral agreement. In addition, special pensions were introduced for those with pre-1953 contributions and for self employed who were already over 56 years of age in 1988 when compulsory insurance was introduced for that group.

Measures are also in place since 1994 to protect the pension entitlements of those who take time out of the paid workforce for caring duties. This scheme, known as the homemaker's scheme, allows for up to 20 years to be disregarded when a person's insurance record is being averaged for pensions purposes. Further changes to the qualifying conditions for contributory pensions would have to be considered in the budgetary context. The homemaker's scheme is being examined as part of an overall review of qualifying conditions for old age contributory and retirement pensions. The report of this review is at an advanced stage of preparation. Changes to the operation of the scheme will be examined in the light of the conclusions of this review.