Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the State pension (contributory) over the past five years to date; the number of persons receiving the State pension (contributory) over the past five years to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62221/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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According to the most recent records available to my Department, below is the information requested by the Deputy in tabular form.

State pension (contributory) new claims created from 2016 to 9 December 2021

State pension (contributory) recipients from 2016 to end-Nov 2021

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the State pension (non-contributory) over the past five years to date; the number of persons receiving the State pension (non-contributary) over the past five years to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62222/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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State pension non-contributory, a social assistance scheme, is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.

The table shows the total number of applications for state pension non-contributory (new first-time claims, excluding re-applications) which were received by the Department in each year from 2016 to 2020. Up to end-November 2021, 8,335 new claims had been received. Over the five-year period, a gradual reduction in new non-contributory claims being received can be seen, which can be attributed in part to year-on-year increases in the numbers of people reaching state pension age, who have sufficient social insurance for state pension contributory eligibility.

At end-November 2021, there were 95,116 recipients of state pension non-contributory. The Deputy will see from the end-year statistics over the past 5 years, that recipient numbers have remained relatively consistent over the period.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.