Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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499.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 23 May 2024, if it can be clarified as to why the applicant was informed in Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 21 November 2023 that she had 236 stamps but now is being informed she only has 204 in the case of a person(details supplied), if her file can be reviewed as a matter of urgency with a view to awarding a State pension when taken into consideration with her awarded home caring period contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25543/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned applied for State Pension (contributory) on 24 January 2020.

To be eligible for the standard state pension (contributory) an individual must have at least 520 full-rate contributions. To qualify for a mixed insurance pension 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate contributions with the remainder made up of modified contributions.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned had 236 paid full-rate contributions in April 2020 . As they did not have the minimum full-rate contributions, they did not qualify for the standard state pension (contributory) or the mixed insurance pension.

On 04 January 2024, the person concerned re-applied for state pension contributory. The person concerned contacted my Department with regard to their contribution record. It came to light that 45 A-Class contributions paid in 1982/83 should have been recorded as 13 A-Class contributions and 33 D-Class contributions. The record of the person concerned was updated to reflect 204 full-rate contributions. As the minimum full rate contributions was not met, the person concerned did not qualify for the standard state pension (contributory) or the mixed insurance pension.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.