Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all periods of employment have been taken into consideration in the calculation of a State pension in the case of a person (details supplied); if the full rate is being paid in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10714/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 1,821 reckonable contributions and credits. This entitles them to a reduced rate of state pension (contributory), based on an assessed yearly average of 37 contributions, covering the period from July 1967 to end-December 2015. The person does not have recorded contributions for the tax year 1976, for the tax years 1980/81 to 1982/83 inclusive, for the tax year 2006, and for the tax years 2008 to 2015 inclusive. This affects their overall yearly average and, consequently, their rate of pension entitlement.

The person was notified in writing of their pension entitlement on 27 January 2016. Attached to the decision letter was a copy of their social insurance record upon which their pension was calculated. If the person considers that they have additional unrecorded contributions or credits, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence of the missing periods of employment and their pension entitlement will be reviewed.

The person’s entitlement to state pension (non-contributory) was also examined. As their entitlement to this pension is at a higher rate, they are currently financially better off to remain on the state pension (non-contributory).

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.