Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

281 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to make arrangements including those which apply in respect of the recognition of up to 156 pre 1953 national insurance contributions in certain circumstances or those which grant retrospective recognition as full national insurance contributions, paid between 1953 and the introduction of the contributory old age pension in legislation, to self employed persons born on or before 5 April 1932 who were obliged to enter PRSI with effect from 6 April 1988, but failed to qualify for a contributory old age pension on the basis of their class S PRSI in view of their date of birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20010/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

To qualify for old age (contributory) pension, a person must (i) have entered insurance at least ten years before pension age; (ii) have at least 156 contributions paid, and (iii) have a yearly average of at least 20 contributions registered since January 1953 (when the unified system of social insurance came into effect), or the time they started insurable employment, if later.

The yearly average condition has been further reduced to ten contributions for the new pro-rata old age (contributory) pension which came into effect from 21 November 1997.

I would point out that the purpose of these qualifying conditions is to ensure entitlement to the pension is based on a reasonable level of contributions to the social insurance fund during the course of a person's career.

In relation to social insurance paid before 1953 under the National Health Insurance Acts, any such contributions can already be taken into account in meeting the first two conditions above.

As I have stated on a number of occasions, I will continue to ensure the broadest possible contributory pension cover to as many people as possible. I am fully conversant with the issue raised by the Deputy and I would like to reassure the House that the matter is receiving my detailed attention.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

282 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if people on pre-retirement pension would be allowed to work part-time to supplement their income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20011/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Pre-retirement allowance is a means-tested payment which allows a person aged 55 or over to opt to retire from the labour force and receive a weekly allowance. The person must be in receipt of a long-term unemployment payment, or be no longer entitled to one-parent family payment or carer's allowance.

In order to qualify for pre-retirement allowance a person must retire from the workforce. There are no plans to change this condition.