David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has given consideration to pro-rata contributory pensions in the event that a person has not been able, through circumstances such as illness, to have the current 520 required paid contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15152/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The State Pension (Contributory) is a PRSI-based pension, financed by contributions made by current workers and their employers, and paid to pensioners, at a rate based upon their PRSI record.

A person is required to have a minimum of 520 paid reckonable PRSI contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory). As the actuarial value of the State Pension is currently estimated at approximately €380,000, it is reasonable to require people claiming a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over the term of their working life, before qualifying for a payment. The requirement for eligibility criteria in order to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) was endorsed by the Commission on Pensions.

It should be noted that, if a person does not satisfy the conditionality to qualify for a contributory State Pension, he or she may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the rate of the State Pension (Contributory).

Alternatively, an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent who does not have enough contributions to claim a maximum rate contributory State Pension his or her own right. The payment rate for the IQA is up to 90% of a full contributory pension. The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.

Last September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions. The set of measures represents the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.

One of the key measures is the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland. Under this new system people will still be able to retire at 66 and draw-down their pension in exactly the same way as they can today. In addition, there will be new flexibility so that people can choose to defer their pension, work longer and receive a higher pension payment.

The flexible State Pension system is about providing people with choice. People will decide for themselves what best suits their needs and circumstances. For example, in the case of a person who reaches age 66 and does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a full pension, they will now have the option to work for longer to build up additional entitlements. If a person has less than 10 years PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period to establish entitlement.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.