Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether it is fair that a person (details supplied) who has paid all the necessary stamp contributions to receive a pension will be refused it. [27826/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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According to the Department’s records, the person concerned will reach state pension age, 67, in 2026. It is not possible to predict at this time what the person’s future state pension (contributory) entitlement will be. Pension entitlement can only be assessed on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches pension age.

The first date of entry into Irish social insurance for the person concerned is recorded as January 1975, the person’s sixteenth birthday. Under current social welfare legislation, that is the earliest commencement point of a person’s Irish social insurance record for state pension (contributory) eligibility purposes. The starting age of sixteen for compulsory social insurance was introduced in the National Insurance Act, 1911 and has since remained an integral part of the Irish social insurance system. There are no current plans to change the age of entry into insurable employment in Ireland.

It is likely that a number of significant changes will be implemented in the state pension (contributory) eligibility conditions over the coming years. State pension age is already set to increase from 66 to 67 in 2021, and to 68 from 2028.The method by which pension entitlement is assessed will likely change to a ‘total contributions based model’, replacing the current ‘yearly-average’ system.

It is important that all contributors maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible over their working life. In the event that a person ceases insurable employment before reaching state pension age, they may wish to consider the payment of voluntary contributions in order to maintain their paid contributions insurance record. The Voluntary Contributions Section, contact details below, can assist in this regard.

Voluntary Contributions Section

Department of Social Protection

Cork Road

Waterford

LoCall 1890 690 690.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.