Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 139: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is intended to speed up the process of applications for various pension entitlements with particular reference to countries with which Ireland has a bilateral arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4907/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The main purpose of the EU and bilateral social security arrangements is to protect the pension rights of persons who have paid social insurance contributions in Ireland and have reckonable periods of insurance in another country. The arrangements protect pension rights by allowing reckonable periods in each country to be taken into account in either country in determining entitlement to certain benefits where there would be no entitlement if national legislation only applied. Apart from the EU regulations on social security, Ireland has bilateral social security agreements with seven countries: Austria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA and Switzerland. A bilateral understanding also exists with Quebec since 1994.

The majority of cases involving EU and bilateral pro-rata pension entitlement are those with UK insurance. Processing times for claims that fall to be examined under EU and bilateral agreements are longer than those for standard Irish entitlements because of the added complexity that arises in determining entitlements under these agreements and the necessity to obtain the relevant foreign insurance details. Every effort is made to minimise processing times for all pension claims. However, the paramount objective is to make sure that people receive their proper entitlements.

Additional temporary staff were assigned to the EU-international section of my Department which deals with retirement and old age contributory pensions, the bulk of EU and bilateral pensions in 2005. More recently four permanent staff have been assigned to the section which is now clearing the backlog of cases which resulted in delays. The situation is being actively monitored and additional resources will be deployed according as demands on other fronts allow.

Further technological solutions are being sought to speed up the claim process and reduce delays. Developments are being progressed with the Department of Work and Pensions, UK and the other foreign agencies to ensure the smooth transfer of the necessary information required to decide on these types of claims. The Deputy may wish to note that the majority of people whose claims fall to be examined under EU and bilateral agreements are already in receipt of a pension from another jurisdiction.

I would like to assure the Deputy that delays in processing applications will not result in any losses to pensioners and those who qualify for payment will have their claims backdated fully in accordance with the normal regulations for backdating pension claims.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 140: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which has taken place with a view to offering contributory or non-contributory old age pensions to Irish missionaries who worked overseas but who wish to remain here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4908/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Missionaries who have made sufficient social insurance contributions can qualify for an old age contributory pension. Contributory pensions are payable abroad and so missionaries who qualify and who chose to settle overseas can receive a payment.

Non-contributory pensions are only payable where a person is resident in this country. Accordingly, missionaries who return here and who satisfy the habitual residence condition and a means test can qualify for a pension.

As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department made a presentation to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs in relation to pensions for missionaries. Following that presentation the committee decided to form a working group, chaired by its chairperson, Deputy Woods, to consider the issue as well as the question of pension entitlements for foreign aid workers in general. My Department is participating in the work of this group.