Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which the State pension (contributory) based on total contributions is progressing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39112/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government intends to introduce a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing level of entitlement for all new state pension contributory claims from 2020 onwards (TCA2020). I launched a public consultation on this proposal earlier this year in May.  This formally closed on the 3rd of September.  My Department has now started studying the submissions.

The consultation sought input on a range of relevant factors which included the amount of contributions needed for a full rate contributory state pension, the amount of credited contribution a person could avail of, the provisions of homecaring periods and whether there would be a "phase-in period" for the changes.

The online consultation lasted for over 3 months and we received over 270 responses.  An analysis of the views submitted is now being undertaken and feedback will be published on the Department's website. Following examination and consideration of the submissions to the consultation, my officials will prepare proposals for the design of the new approach for consideration by the Government in due course.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the State pension (contributory); the extent to which this number has fluctuated over the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39113/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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State pension (contributory) is an insurance-based payment, paid to people from the age of 66 who satisfy a number of qualifying conditions.  The number of persons currently in receipt of state pension (contributory) is 404,136. 

The following table shows the number of state pension (contributory) recipients over the past ten years.  Due to demographic trends and people living longer, the number of state pension (contributory) recipients has grown steadily year on year over the past decade.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.