Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

As I have stated to Deputy Shortall, since these changes were brought about there has been active involvement with all pensioners and those approaching pension age in ensuring that they are aware of the changes. I have asked that the position be clarified as soon as possible. We are four years from when the change will take place. There are, according to the estimates, approximately 40,000 people who will be affected in the system as we come towards 2012, and I have given Deputy Shortall that figure. Over the next two years or so we will see exactly what the position will be.

The Department is providing a quality service to all of its customers and this includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are issued as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions which apply. The first phase of this new initiative which is claim initiation, whereby my Department will be able to offer its customers an enhanced service by inviting them to claim pensions in advance of reaching pension age, commenced in January last. That will begin to assist us in getting all of the facts and assisting those customers.

Certain customers who have an entitlement to State contributory pension and have had recent interaction with the Department are being invited to apply for a pension in advance of pension age and the Department recognises the merits of proactively initiating pension claims. However, it will take some time before all customers can be addressed in this way.

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