Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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450. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused an old age pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24089/23]

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

An application for state pension (non-contributory) was received from the person concerned on 12 July 2012. On 29 August 2012, the case was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to investigate the means of the applicant for pension eligibility purposes. On 11 December 2012, the Inspector returned the case to the Deciding Officer, advising that the applicant had failed to make themselves available for interview.

The Deciding Officer disallowed the person's application as they had failed to disclose their means by not making themselves available for interview by the Inspector. On 18 December 2012, the person was notified in writing of this decision, and of their right to request a review of the decision or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. There is no record that an appeal against the decision was received.

There is no record of any further contact from the person concerned with the Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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451. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position with regard to the issue where priests were prohibited from paying a contribution before 1988 and where those priests who have since retired are now unable to achieve a full State pension due to the lack of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24102/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The social insurance system has been developed on an incremental basis since the current unified system was introduced in 1953. While the system is now very comprehensive, various groups of workers, including self-employed workers, were brought into cover and made liable to make contributions at differing periods over the years.

Ministers of Religion who were in employment (as a Minister of Religion) gained access to cover for the first time in 1974. However, this access was subject to an application to, and the agreement of, the then Minister for Social Welfare by an appropriate authority or body acting on behalf of the relevant ministers representing them that the services performed and conditions of appointment were analogous to other occupations which were already covered for social insurance purposes.

The provisions of the 1974 Act meant that all religious authorities or bodies had, if they so wished, the opportunity to apply for social insurance access for their employed members and, therefore, did not discriminate in any way against or in favour of any particular congregations. Only one such body applied over the period to 1988 and this group of ministers was accepted into cover.

Ministers of Religion who were engaged in secular employment e.g. as a teacher or a nurse gained access to cover for the first time. However, entry into cover was also subject to application to the Minister by an appropriate authority or body acting on behalf of the relevant ministers.

1988 saw significant changes to the scope of the social insurance system. Ministers of Religion who were in employment became insurable in the same way as other employed persons and the requirement for application to the Minister was deleted. Furthermore, those who were not in an employment but had income for (income) tax purposes were brought into cover as self-employed contributors.

These arrangements reflect the gradual extension of cover over the period 1974 to 1988 and it is not possible to disturb these arrangements for this group at this stage.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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452. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is not receiving their full pension entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24115/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 12 November 2022.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 772 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions from their date of entry into employment in 1975, to the end of 2022. This equates to a yearly average of 16 contributions, giving entitlement to 65% of the maximum rate state pension (contributory) at €172.90 per week. To qualify for the maximum rate of State pension (contributory), a yearly average of 48 contributions is required.

The person concerned is in receipt of the correct rate of State pension (contributory), commensurate with their social insurance record as held by my Department.

I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them. If they consider that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.

It is also open to the person concerned to apply for the means-tested state pension (non-contributory). The maximum rate equates to 95% of the maximum rate of state pension (contributory).

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.