Seán Fleming
Question:621. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the situation in relation to persons who were self-employed and paid their taxes to the Revenue Commissioners each year, which included an element for PRSI contributions, which allowed them to be eligible for the contributory old age pension but they were not aware that these contributions were building up and they did not apply for their pension on reaching their 66th birthday and subsequently applied and only had their pension backdated for six months resulting in them losing a number of years in pension entitlements to which they had contributed; if he will ensure that persons in this situation can apply for their pension from their 66th birthday at this stage where they have a full entitlement to it based on their contributions; the mechanism he will put in place to notify all persons concerned of their entitlement to a pension coming up to their 66th birthday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/16]
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