Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding fuel allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; the reason the payment has been suspended; if it will be reviewed and put into payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38876/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned has been in receipt of illness benefit since 27 June 2011. Illness benefit is a short-term income support. Fuel allowance is not payable under the illness benefit scheme. Previously, the person concerned was in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and qualified for fuel allowance under that scheme. If a person has an urgent or exceptional need they may apply to their local Community Welfare Officer for assistance under the supplementary allowance scheme.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is not being granted a full transition pension having been in full-time insurable employment since 16 years of age; if she will honour all social welfare contributions made by the person and whose employers may not fulfil their obligations to the Revenue Commissioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38906/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The qualifying conditions for State pension (transition) require the applicant to

have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 55 years (age 56 for State pension contributory).

have at least 260 paid contribution weeks, since entry into insurance.

have a yearly average of at least 24 paid/credited contributions.

According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has self-employment contributions paid from April 1989 to 2011. The Department does not have a record of the person concerned paying PRSI contributions as an employed contributor prior to that date. Self-employment (S-class) PRSI is not a reckonable class of social insurance for State pension (transition). A social welfare inspector has been requested to investigate the position relating to his employment as a mechanic during the period 1959 to 1980, and to confirm if any additional PRSI contributions would be due for this period. When this investigation has been completed, his claim to State pension (transition) will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome. The person concerned satisfies the conditions for entitlement to a State pension (contributory) at 98% of the maximum rate, payable from age 66.