Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The advice given was from 1997, which gave a 15-year window. These people know that five years of contributions within the 15 year timespan, which is a fairly reasonable approach, is all that they must make up and most of them are doing so.

A person reaching age 66 on or after 6 April 2012 must have paid 520 full-rate employment contributions or if at least 260 full-rate employment contributions are paid, the balance of the 520 can be made up with high-rate voluntary contributions as well. There are a number of options and all people have been notified.

I will look at it again to see if there are within the system many people who are unaware and if so, I intend to do something about it. My understanding is that all of these people know the position.

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