Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
451. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the position with regard to the issue where priests were prohibited from paying a contribution before 1988 and where those priests who have since retired are now unable to achieve a full State pension due to the lack of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24102/23]
View answerThe social insurance system has been developed on an incremental basis since the current unified system was introduced in 1953. While the system is now very comprehensive, various groups of workers, including self-employed workers, were brought into cover and made liable to make contributions at differing periods over the years.
Ministers of Religion who were in employment (as a Minister of Religion) gained access to cover for the first time in 1974. However, this access was subject to an application to, and the agreement of, the then Minister for Social Welfare by an appropriate authority or body acting on behalf of the relevant ministers representing them that the services performed and conditions of appointment were analogous to other occupations which were already covered for social insurance purposes.
The provisions of the 1974 Act meant that all religious authorities or bodies had, if they so wished, the opportunity to apply for social insurance access for their employed members and, therefore, did not discriminate in any way against or in favour of any particular congregations. Only one such body applied over the period to 1988 and this group of ministers was accepted into cover.
Ministers of Religion who were engaged in secular employment e.g. as a teacher or a nurse gained access to cover for the first time. However, entry into cover was also subject to application to the Minister by an appropriate authority or body acting on behalf of the relevant ministers.
1988 saw significant changes to the scope of the social insurance system. Ministers of Religion who were in employment became insurable in the same way as other employed persons and the requirement for application to the Minister was deleted. Furthermore, those who were not in an employment but had income for (income) tax purposes were brought into cover as self-employed contributors.
These arrangements reflect the gradual extension of cover over the period 1974 to 1988 and it is not possible to disturb these arrangements for this group at this stage.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
