Peadar Tóibín
Question:271. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if former members of the Catholic clergy are entitled to a contributory pension if their bishops did not sign them up on the scheme. [11232/24]
View answerThursday, 7 March 2024
Questions (271)
Written answers
There are a number of criteria which must be satisfied to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory). These include that the person must be aged 66 or over, and that they have at least 520 paid social insurance contributions, i.e., a minimum of 10 years of paid contributions.
Clergy and other religious denominations were excluded from Social Insurance on its introduction. In 1974, however, the Social Welfare Act 1974 made provision that ministers of religion engaged solely on pastoral works for which remuneration was received, could be admitted to social insurance on the application of the appropriate representative body or authority. 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 the Church of Ireland availed of this provision. The position for other ministers of religion, including those employed as teachers or nurses and remunerated as such, were not covered by social insurance.
In 1986, the Commission on Social Welfare published a range of proposals aimed at developing and enhancing the structure and operation of the social insurance system. The exclusion of clergy and other religious denominations from social insurance coverage was examined and, in this context, it was not considered appropriate to continue to exclude from the system those who are employed in what might be termed secular employment as employees under a contract of service. The categories involved were religious denominations who are mainly employed in schools, hospitals, and other institutions. They came within the social protection system as employees, insurable at the ordinary or modified rate, as appropriate to their circumstances from 1988. The effect of this is that clergy and people of other religious denominations who are employed in public or private sector employment – i.e., in schools, hospitals and other public/social institutions – are afforded the same level of coverage as other employees in those sectors and generally insurable at PRSI Class A or D, as appropriate.
Religious denominations involved in pastoral care only are generally insured as self-employed workers provided they meet the minimum income threshold. Social insurance contributions (Class S PRSI) were introduced for self-employed people on 6 April 1988. These contributions provide cover for self-employed people for long-term benefits such as State Pension (Contributory) and Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) pension. In addition to the qualifying conditions above, to be eligible for the State Pension (Contributory) a person must have paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching age 66, and all self-employment contributions payable must have been paid in full.
The Deputy should also note that religious missionaries outside Ireland do not pay PRSI into the Irish social insurance system but can pay voluntary contributions.
If a person fulfils the eligibility criteria, they may qualify for a State Pension (Contributory). Where a person is unable to meet the qualifying conditions for a State Pension (Contributory) or is only eligible for a reduced rate of contributory pension, they may alternatively apply for State Pension (Non-Contributory) amounting up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate which is subject to a means-test. To receive the State Pension (Non-Contributory) a person must also be aged 66 or over, satisfy the habitual residence condition, live in the State, have a valid personal public service number, and satisfy a means test.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.