Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is entitled to an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38392/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

To qualify for IP claimants must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.

According to the Department's records, it appears that the person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP. However entitlement to IP can be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim.

Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.

Application forms for IP and DA have issued to the person concerned and if she wishes to make an application, she should complete and return an application form as soon as possible.