Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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329. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application made by a person (details supplied) in respect of invalidity pension has now been refused. [23584/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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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 a claimant 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.

The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the 30 June 2016. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. She was notified on the 08 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

However, my Department is currently re-investigating the position of the person in question in relation to possible entitlement to PRSI credited contributions for period(s) for which she was in receipt of various social welfare schemes.

My Department will be in direct contact with the person in question as soon as possible regarding the outcome of these investigations and whether that outcome affects her entitlement to IP.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.