Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when State contributory pension will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has paid the sufficient amount of contributions in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41130/11]

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, since entry into insurance, from employment or self-employment.

· have a yearly average of at least 10 paid/credited contributions.

According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has only 250 paid PRSI contributions in total from October 1952 to 1996, giving her a yearly average of 4 contributions over that period. Therefore, she does not satisfy the qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory). If she has an income need, she should apply for the means-tested State pension (non-contributory).