Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on offering old age pension payments on a pro-rata basis to persons with an average of less than 10 contributions during their working lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43606/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In order to qualify for the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory) a person must, amongst other qualifying conditions, achieve a yearly average of at least 48 contributions paid or credited on his/her social insurance record. Reduced pensions are paid to those with yearly averages as low as 10 contributions and arrangements are also in place for the payment of pro-rata pensions to those with mixed rate insurance records or contributions from other EU member States or countries with which Ireland has a reciprocal agreement.

I am anxious to ensure that as many people as possible can qualify for a contributory pension and, in this regard, the range of reduced payments has been expanded over the years so that more people can receive a payment. In relation to the current qualifying conditions I might add that up until 1997 an average of 20 contributions was required for a minimum pension.

However, in considering eligibility for contributory payments it is necessary to uphold the contributory principle which underpins entitlement. This requires, amongst other things, that people meet a minimum contribution threshold in order to qualify. This is a normal feature of pension schemes in other countries. On balance I think the threshold which we have set is a reasonable one and, in the circumstances, I do not consider that it would be appropriate to reduce it further.