Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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281. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); if same can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30704/17]

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.

A claim for IP was received from the gentleman referred to on 25 April 2017. He was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on 27 June 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The gentleman in question is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) since 18 February 2015.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.