John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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202. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the conditions that must be met in order for self employed persons to receive the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3730/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s social insurance record and satisfaction of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date they reach pension age.

Current social welfare legislation provides that, in order to qualify for state pension (contributory), an applicant must have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years, have at least 520 full rate paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance and have a yearly average of at least 10 paid and/or credited contributions from the applicant’s date of entry into insurable employment to the end of the tax year preceding their 66^thbirthday. Where an applicant becomes self-employed on 6 April 1988 and at any time before that date was an employed contributor, the more favourable date of their entry into insurance or 6 April 1988 is taken as their date of entry.

In addition to the qualifying conditions above, a self-employed applicant must have paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching age 66 and all self-employment contributions payable must have been paid in full.

Legislation providing for a half rate state pension contributory for self employed persons came into effect from 9 April 1999 to benefit those already over 56 years of age when compulsory self-employed social insurance was introduced in 1988 and who had not paid other contribution types to satisfy the condition of having entered insurance 10 years before pension age. This pension requires a minimum of 5 years (260 full-rate) contributions and is payable at 50% of the standard rate.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.