Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Social Insurance Fund is in surplus. I plan to release the documentation supporting the new total contributions model when I bring the memo to Cabinet. If everything remains the same, that surplus will be diminished very quickly over the next number of years and we would rapidly end up in a negative that would have to be supported by the Exchequer other funds, notwithstanding any changes that we would make. We will attempt to make changes in how we calculate the State pension (contributory) going forward, with regard to the number of contributions that are needed. It is better than expected this year, which, I think, is related to more jobs having been created this year and thus increase social insurance contributions. At some point in the future, we need to have a conversation about it. There are payments which I believe should be met from the Social Insurance Fund but are not and people who are not paying into the Social Insurance Fund in the same way as others. I want to ensure there is an equality of access to the Social Insurance Fund, which means an equality of input. This, too, is a conversation we need to have.