Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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447. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 11 May 2023, whether a decision to refuse a State pension takes into account employment from 2008 and from 2016 on a 'stamp 1 basis in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25621/23]

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 legal 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.

The eligibility conditions for state pension non-contributory do not require the taking into account of the social insurance record of an applicant, based on any periods of employment they may have held in the state (or in any EU Member State or country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement).

The person has not made an application for state pension contributory. If they wish to do so, they should complete and submit form 'SPC1' (providing full details, also, of insurable employment(s), if any, they have held outside of Ireland, the periods involved, and their residency address while in each employment). The person's entitlement to state pension contributory will be examined and they will be notified of the outcome in writing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.