Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

196. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for contributory old age pension received in each of the past five years to date; where eligibility was determined on the basis of a partnership between spouses; where the relevant self-employed pension contributions under the 1988 Act were made but where pension was refused on the basis that a partnership did not exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12050/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not possible to provide statistics on the number of applications for the State pension (contributory) where eligibility was determined on the basis of a partnership between spouses. The common practice is that a person will apply to Scope section in the Department for a determination concerning their PRSI status in advance of applying for a State pension. The number of applications for recognition of a commercial partnership processed in each of the last five years to date is set out in the following table.

Where retrospective commercial partnership status is approved, persons are in a position to apply for a State pension (contributory), subject to satisfying the qualification criteria.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.