Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is on a reduced rate of pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20409/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory) require the applicant to have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years; have at least 260 paid contribution weeks, from employment or self-employment, since entry into insurance and; satisfy the yearly average condition.

The person concerned satisfies the above conditions and has a total of 884 reckonable (paid and credited) social insurance contributions. When this total is divided by 51 (the number of years from date of entry into insurance to the end of the last tax year prior to reaching age 66), this gives a yearly average of 17 contributions, and entitles her to a reduced State pension (contributory) of €172.70 per week (75% of the maximum rate). In order to qualify for a maximum rate pension, a yearly average of 48 or more would be required.