Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 3 May 2022.  The application for State Pension (Contributory) was received on 11 October 2022.

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). As the person concerned does not have the minimum of 520 full rate paid Irish contributions, they do not qualify for an Irish state pension (contributory) based on their Irish contribution history alone. 

Since the person concerned resided in the Netherlands, their pension entitlement to a pro-rata State Pension (Contributory) is under investigation, based on a combination of their Irish insurance record with their insurance record in the Netherlands.

Officials in my Department have been in contact with the Dutch pension authority who advised that they require further information from the person concerned before they can forward the Dutch record to my Department. If the person concerned provides the requested information to the Dutch pension authority, officials in my Department can progress their State Pension (contributory) application. Upon receipt of the insurance record from the Dutch pension authorities, the pension entitlement of the person concerned will be reviewed, and they will be notified of the outcome. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.