Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the length of time a self-employed person must be making contributions to establish full pension entitlement, having regard to the budgetary changes which were recently announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3499/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are no new budgetary provisions announced for 2012 which alter the main qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory) in respect of claimants who have been either employed or self-employed.

The qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory) require the claimant to

- have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years.

- where the claimant reaches pension age prior to 6 April 2012, s/he must have at least 260 paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance, from employment or self-employment. Where the claimant will reach pension age on or after 6th April 2012, a minimum of 520 paid contributions will be required (the legislation to provide for this change in the contribution conditions has been in place since 1997 and has been highlighted in the Department's information publications for a number of years and is not a 2012 budgetary change).

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