Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the State pension provisions that are in place for returning religious missionaries upon their return here for retirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15096/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a fundamental principle of the social insurance system that those qualifying for benefits must satisfy a range of contribution and other conditions. The State contributory pension is a valuable benefit and the conditions are designed to ensure that those qualifying have had a sufficient and on-going attachment to the social insurance system.

In the case of State contributory pension, this involves commencing payment of contributions 10 years before pension age, payment of a minimum number of contributions at an appropriate rate and reaching a minimum average annual contribution rate.

Religious missionaries outside Ireland do not pay PRSI into the Irish social insurance system but can pay voluntary contributions. If they fulfil the eligibility criteria they may qualify for a State pension contributory.

For those who do not qualify for the State contributory pension, they can apply for the State pension non-contributory pension scheme. To qualify for State pension (non-contributory) a person must satisfy the habitual residence condition, live in the State while getting this pension, be aged 66 or over, have a valid personal public service number, and satisfy a means test.

In relation to the habitual residency clause, missionaries who have chosen to resettle in Ireland will be considered to have their main centre of interest in Ireland thereby satisfying the habitual residency clause.

A person will, of course, have to be present in Ireland at the time of making an application for the payments concerned and continue to reside in Ireland while in receipt of such payment.