Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this issue. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan.

The parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers concerns a person who is currently in receipt of an invalidity pension. Prior to being awarded an invalidity pension, he was in receipt of disability allowance with effect from 19 September 2001. The person concerned applied for an invalidity pension on 13 June 2006 and was awarded the pension from 15 June 2006.

Following a review of his entitlement, it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to invalidity pension as he did not have a total of 48 PRSI contributions paid or credited in the 2005 tax and PRSI contribution year, which was the last tax year before his claim was made. The case has now been further reviewed and I can confirm that the person concerned does not have an entitlement to invalidity pension.

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