Michael Ring
Ceist:1711 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved a pro rata contributory pension; and when payment will be made in this regard. [16440/02]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
Based on a combination of British and Irish insurance records, the person concerned has been awarded a pro rata old age contributory pension at the weekly personal rate of €43 with effect from 21 June.
He has opted to receive his pension by way of electronic fund transfer to his bank account and the necessary arrangements are being made to facilitate this. Arrears of pension due will issue to him shortly.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:1712 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the system for crediting RSI contributions for pension purposes; if problems arose in relation to the short tax year in 2001; if the system is computerised or whether calculations of pension entitlement forecasts are made by hand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16453/02]
Credited contributions may be awarded to an employed contributor for periods of sickness or unemployment or for attendance at certain courses of training. These contributions have always been a fundamental component of the social insurance system in helping to ensure that a persons insurance record does not suffer because of unexpected contingencies which may arise.
Pension forecasts are provided for persons aged 55 years and over who wish to establish their possible entitlement to pension. Atypical cases involve those who may be changing employment moving from public to private sector employment, and consequently a change in employment contribution rate, or from those taking early retirement and considering becoming voluntary contributors so as to maintain eligibility for pension. Forecasts are completed manually mainly due to the fact that insurance records prior to 1979 are not held on computer systems but rather on microfiche tapes.
In enacting the changes to the tax year in the Social Welfare Act, 2001, provision was also made to protect insured workers against losses due solely to the change in the contribution year.
In general there were no difficulties arising from the change although a small number of cases involving claims to old age contributory pension were adversely affected due to unusual factors not covered by the transitional provisions. I am having the matter examined at present with a view to addressing the problem which arose in these cases.