Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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239. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for pensions based on a combination of Irish and overseas contributions that have yielded a lesser pension to the applicant than those based solely on single country contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39111/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Applicants for state pension (contributory) are awarded the highest entitlement rate achievable based on the totality of their social insurance contribution history.  

When an application for state pension (contributory) is received, the Deciding Officer will first assess the person's entitlement to a standard Irish pension, based on their Irish social insurance record.  If the person fails to qualify, or qualifies for a reduced rate pension, the Deciding Officer will take any periods of employment outside of Ireland into account.  Where a person has periods of employment in another EU/EEA country, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, their entitlement to a pro-rata pension is assessed.  The person is then awarded the most financially beneficial rate of entitlement.   

Almost 36,000 people are receiving higher rates of entitlement than if they were assessed solely on their Irish social insurance record.  In many cases, these recipients are also in receipt of a pension entitlement from their country, or countries, of employment outside of Ireland. 

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.