Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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350. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a situation that has arisen due to the change in the rules in contributions for a contributory pension from 260 to 520 whereby some persons are only discovering the discrepancy when they reach retirement age, by which stage it is too late to remedy the situation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25099/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In order to qualify for a State pension contributory, a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include:

- commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age;

- payment of a minimum of 520 qualifying contributions; and

- achieving a yearly average of at least 10 qualifying contributions, paid or credited, over their working life.

In April 2012, the qualifying conditions for State pension increased from 260 paid PRSI contributions to 520 paid contributions. This provision was legislated for very far in advance in the Social Welfare Act, 1997. This change has been notified in all social welfare pension publications since 1997. It has also been highlighted in the recent information campaign concerning reform measures to the State pension.

The State pension is a very valuable asset and it is important, for sustainability reasons, that those who receive it have made a significant contribution towards it during a working life. The means-tested State pension (non-contributory) may be available to people on low incomes who have not paid sufficient PRSI contributions to qualify for the contributory pension.