Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how a person (details supplied) who has a retirement pension from the HSE (Mercy Hospital, Cork) after 40 years' employment as a nurse and who is presently still working, can enhance their pension entitlement; if their current employment is of any benefit in that regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40339/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 25 May 2024. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received on 21 February 2024.

In general, public servants who joined prior to 6 April 1995 paid modified contributions which are not reckonable for the standard state pension (contributory). However, such employees generally have an occupational pension, the level of which is related to a number of factors, including years of service.

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 has a total of 316 full-rate contributions. As this falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard State pension (contributory), their entitlement to a mixed insurance pension was examined. The person concerned has a total of 316 full-rate contributions, 120 full rate credits, 2,008 modified contributions and 14 modified credits from 1976 to 2024. This gave entitlement to a mixed insurance pension at the currently weekly rate of €49.20.

Where a person qualifies for less than the maximum rate of state pension (contributory), it is open to them to apply for one of the following:

• The means-tested state pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State pension (contributory); or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate state Pension (contributory) pension where their spouse has a contributory pension.