Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an invalidity pension will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38707/16]

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 gentleman referred to is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) since the 01 February 2012. He is not eligible for credited contributions for the period while he is in receipt of DA due to a gap in his insurance record for a number of years immediately prior to his DA application.

A claim for IP was received from him on the 17 October 2016. He was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Specifically, he does not have 48 contributions paid or credited in the reckonable year, 2015 in this case. He was notified on 21 November 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.