Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I dealt with this matter as Minister for the public service in the context of how all public servants are treated when the right to an entitlement to a pension arises. The question of social welfare policy is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, but the legislative provisions relating to late claims for social welfare benefits are set out in section 241 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, which provides a mechanism for the back-dating of State pension claims up to and beyond five years where there are grounds for doing so. It amounts to 100% for the first year's arrears, 50% for the second year, 30% for the third year, 20% for the fourth year and 10% for the fifth and subsequent years.

See this speech in context