Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Social welfare legislation provides that where an applicant for state pension (contributory) who had previously been employed, became a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988, the date on which the person first entered insurance, or the date of 6 April 1988, whichever is the more favourable, shall be regarded as their date of entry into insurance for pension eligibility purposes.

As the person concerned was not a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988, the date of entry into insurance used is 19 February 1968. According to the current records of the Department, the person has a total of 1,288 reckonable paid and credited contributions from that date to the end of December 2016 (the last complete contribution year prior to reaching pension age). This gives the person a yearly average of 26, resulting in a reduced-rate state pension (contributory) entitlement with effect from 29 November 2017.

The person’s employment record for the period 1969 to 1973 is currently being examined. My Department’s Central Records Section has written to the person concerned on 2 January 2018, requesting documentary evidence of their employment during this period.

If the person’s insurance record is updated following the outcome of this examination, the pension entitlement of the person concerned will be re-assessed and they will be notified of the outcome without delay.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.