Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for pension based on a combination of Irish and overseas contributions that have yielded a lesser pension to the applicant than those based solely on single-country contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54421/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have at least 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State Pension (Contributory).

If a person was employed in another EU Member State, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, their entitlement to a pro-rata state pension (contributory) based on a combination of their insurance record in another EU Member State, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, and their Irish insurance record is also examined.

Under the regulations, their social insurance record in the EU Member State country, or one with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement can be combined with their Irish insurance record to give entitlement to a proportional or pro rata pension.

The person is paid the pension which is financially more beneficial to them. The pension awarded is dependent on a claimant’s work history and insurance record and could be either the standard State pension (contributory) or the pro-rata pension.

The information requested by the Deputy is not available. However, I can confirm that at the end of November 2023, 8% of SPC awarded claims are based on a combination of Irish and foreign insurance.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the State pension (contributory); the extent to which this number has fluctuated over the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54422/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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State Pension (Contributory) is a payment a person may qualify for at 66 years of age if they have enough Irish social insurance contributions.

At the end of November 2023 there were 505,475 persons in receipt of State Pension (Contributory). The number of recipients has risen steadily over the past ten years, as outlined in the below table for each calendar year 2013 to 2022.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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257. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the State pension (non-contributory); the extent to which this number has fluctuated over the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54423/23]

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, habitually residing in the State, 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.

At end-November 2023, there were 100,065 (personal rate) recipients of state pension non-contributory.

The table below shows the end-year numbers of recipients of state pension non-contributory over the past 10 years. The numbers have remained relatively consistent, with an increase in recipients emerging only in the past 2 years. This increase can be primarily attributed to the awarding of state pension non-contributory to displaced persons from Ukraine, aged 66 and over, who have moved to reside in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.