Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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1298. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when improvements to pension calculations announced on 23 January 2018 for post-2012 pensioners will be implemented; when the relevant pensioners will be contacted regarding these changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36548/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On 23 January last, this Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated on a Total Contributions basis, including provision for up to 20 years of a new home caring credit.

Legislation has to be drafted and enacted to enable implementation of these arrangements, and a number of options regarding the best approach to passing that legislation are being considered. In addition, an information technology system has to be developed in line with the legislation. My Department is currently working on both of these. As I've said previously, it is still planned to commence the reviews before the end of this year, with the first payments being made in the first quarter of 2019. In this regard, the commitment we made in January for the payments to be dated from 26 March last still stands.

It is not necessary for people to contact the Department on this matter. Once the legislation is enacted and the systems and processes are ready, my Department will write to the people impacted and provide them with the opportunity to have their pension calculation reviewed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.