Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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580. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who has applied for illness benefit and is one contribution short will qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2852/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Illness Benefit is a payment for persons who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) conditions. For Illness Benefit claims made in 2017 the governing contribution year is 2015.

The person concerned made a claim for Illness Benefit from 11 November 2017. Unfortunately there were insufficient PRSI contributions paid in 2015 to qualify for payment. For claims made in 2018 the governing contribution year is 2016. A minimum of 39 paid or credited contributions are required in order to qualify for payment. The person concerned has 38 paid contributions in 2016 and will therefore not qualify for payment in 2018.

Should there be any additional PRSI contributions due for the person concerned in the 2016 year, they should be brought to the attention of my Department and the position can be reviewed.