Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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506. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons aged under 26 years who are signing for credited contributions with her Department. [13339/14]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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507. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons aged over 60 years who are signing for credited contributions with her Department. [13340/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 507.

Credited contributions (credits) are a feature of the contributory social insurance schemes. A credit is a pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution awarded to an insured person under certain circumstances, such as proved unemployment. Credits ensure that a person’s insurance record is maintained and can be helpful at a later stage to qualify for other social welfare benefits, such as pensions.

I assume that the Deputy is referring to unemployment credits in his questions. Of the total of 37,312 current jobseeker credit only claims i.e. those not in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment, 351 people are aged 18 to 25 and 11,403 are aged 61 to 66.