John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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432. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce legislation to change the age eligibility criteria for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31723/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” sets out how the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred and it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Commission on Pensions. The Government confirmed as part of its Budget 2021 measures that the required amendment to primary legislation (the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005) will be brought before the Oireachtas later this year for enactment in advance of the 1st January 2021. The Government has set aside a provision of €221 million in 2021 to support costs associated with this measure.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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433. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is considering proposals to reintroduce the transition payment for those eligible for the State pension from the period they turn 65 years of age until they start to draw down the State pension, rather than the current position in which such persons must go on jobseeker’s allowance for the transition period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31724/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” commits to introducing a Retirement Payment for 65 year olds paid at the same rate as Jobseeker's Benefit without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work.

Officials in my Department are currently considering how the Government commitment could be implemented and are assessing the ICT system requirements, legal provisions and administrative processes required to do that.

In the meantime, the Deputy should note that a person aged 65 or over who is retired and qualifies for a jobseeker's benefit payment may retain that payment in full (assuming they don't return to work) until they reach the state pension age of 66, i.e., the payment does not exhaust after 6 or 9 months as it normally does.  Additionally, people of 65 or over on a jobseeker's payment are not required to engage with the Department's activation process, are not required to be actively seeking work, and are only required to sign on once or twice.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.