Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29948/16]

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.

In 2012 the department received from the person concerned a claim for IP. That claim was refused at that time on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The department has no record of any subsequent claim for IP from the person concerned. A claim form for IP issued to the person concerned on 11 October 2016.

The department received a claim for Disability Allowance for the person concerned on 4 October 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.