Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am well aware of the cases raised by Deputies Smith and Stanton. One goes to one's accountant, especially if one is a self-employed farmer, and thinks one is getting advice, but sometimes one is not getting great advice because some of those who did not have to pay tax that year did not pay their PRSI. That is exactly what happened. When one reaches retirement age and discovers there are gaps in one's social welfare contributions, one can make an application to look at making up the payments, but that only goes back five years, as far as I understand it. I know Deputy Smith raised this with me before. I asked my officials to look at it. If it had been good news, I would have been back to the Deputy very quickly, but I think it was not quite as simple and straightforward as that. I will look at it again. I regularly see this situation. If there is one message to go out from the House this evening, it is for those people who find they do not have to pay tax, for whatever reason, to please make sure they pay their PRSI contribution, because they need it. That is for self-employed people.

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