John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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438.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the State pension (contributory) being paid to a person (details supplied) will be increased to the maximum, based on contributions made by them while working in Australia and the information submitted by them in this regard. [24769/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 27 November 2022.

The standard state pension (contributory) was awarded at the weekly rate of €249.30 which is 90% of the maximum rate payable. This was based on 1,693 Irish contributions and credits from 1977 to 2022, giving a yearly average of 38 contributions. In order to qualify for the maximum rate a yearly average of 48 is required.

A bilateral pro-rata state pension (contributory) is payable to people who worked in a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral agreement who do not qualify for a standard pension based on their Irish contributions alone or who may qualify for a higher rate of pension based on a combination of Irish contributions and contributions from the other country.

The persons Australian record was received by my department from the Australian authorities on 30 May 2024. The person's state pension (contributory) was reviewed and it was determined that based on their combined social insurance record they would have an entitlement to €229.50 per week. However, as it is financially more beneficial for them to remain on the standard state pension (contributory), that payment will remain in payment. A letter issued to the person concerned on 5 June 2024 informing them of the outcome of the review.

I have arranged for a copy of their Irish 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 Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384 and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.

It is also open to the person concerned to apply for the state pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of €266.00 per week.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.