Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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570. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which provision continues to exist to allow credit in respect of employment in the context of the determination of eligibility for a State pension in respect of a period of employment in which contributions are omitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8804/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Article 70(3)(a) of Statutory Instrument No. 312 of 1996 (Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 allows the award of employment contributions to a person which have not been paid, in circumstances where this has not occurred with their consent or connivance, or due to their negligence.

The Department will carry out a review of the record of any customer who makes contact, advising of the possibility that contributions may be missing from their social insurance record.

Such a review can take a number of forms, depending on the nature of the issues raised; and can include (but is not limited to) the following;

- Examination of any documentation provided by the customer

- A full check of the Department’s systems for the employment

- A check for Revenue returns relating to the period in question

- Referral to a social welfare inspector for a full investigation into the period concerned.

All cases where contributions may be missing are investigated in full; and in each case a decision as to the outcome for the customer’s social insurance record is made and communicated back to the customer.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.