John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the assurances he can give to persons living here receiving a pension payment from the UK as a result of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17955/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It is important to state that the current arrangements for social security between Ireland and the UK have not changed. All social welfare payments, including pensions, continue to be paid as normal.

Furthermore, social security arrangements between the UK and the EU27 also have not changed. The future operation of arrangements will, of course, be determined as part of the complex process of negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU.

Clearly, a key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social security schemes, including pensions, and services between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. The Government's long-term objective is to ensure that the reciprocity of civic rights and social welfare rights and entitlements, which currently exist for Irish and UK citizens moving within Ireland and between Ireland and Britain under the Common Travel Area (CTA), are safeguarded and maintained.

To that end, I have strongly emphasised the importance of this in my meetings with my counterparts in the UK and other EU member states

In addition, as a member of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, I will take every opportunity to protect and advance this objective as will my officials.

There are 10,250 customers of the Department in receipt of British Retirement Pensions (BRP) who are in receipt of State pension non-contributory (SPNC). Separately there are 152 customers, who are in receipt of BRP, and are qualified adults on their spouse’s SPNC. As this is a means tested pension and the level of their pensions is adjusted to take account of their BRP, the amount of their payment has been impacted as a result of currency fluctuations. Where requested by the customer and in an effort to minimise any hardship, the Department urgently reviews the pension payable in line with current EU regulations governing currency conversion rates. Such reviews, however, involve a full assessment of the customer’s means. An increase in SPNC might not always be warranted when all means are updated and reassessed. A total of 445 such requests have been made by customers in recent months.