Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:100 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the total number of people in receipt of the old age non-contributory pension; and the number in receipt of this pension at the full rate. [24739/02]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
There are currently 88,551 people in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension from my Department. This includes 58,913 people, 67% of the total, who are getting pension at the maximum rate.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:101 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will amend the qualifying criteria for an old age contributory pension to allow people who commenced paying social insurance contributions at full or modified rate before reaching age 56, regardless of the locations they made their contributions; if she will allow for those who have ten years Irish contributions and commenced paying social insurance contributions before reaching age 56 in the UK for example; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24740/02]
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of a standard rate old age contributory pension is that a person must have commenced paying social insurance contributions in Ireland before reaching age 56. They must also pay a minimum number of full rate contributions at the appropriate rate, and achieve a minimum yearly average of at least ten contributions paid or credited at the appropriate rate over their working lives.
In addition to standard rate pensions a number of pro-rata pensions are also available to cater for people with full and modified rate social insurance or insurance from other countries. Since Ireland's accession to the EU in 1973, entry into insurance under the legislation of other member states satisfies the requirement to have entered insurance before aged 56 for an EU pro-rata pension. Appropriate insurance from other member states can also be combined with full rate Irish contributions to qualify for a pension. These arrangements comply with the relevant EU legislation – Regulations (EEC) 1408/71. Similar arrangements apply to social insurance contributions made in countries with whom Ireland has bilateral social security agreements.
I am satisfied that the current arrangements in relation to the use of social insurance from other countries for pensions purposes are adequate and no changes are being considered at this stage.