Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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764. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a State pension which has been declined due to insufficient contributions; if an application can be made if the rest of the contributions are paid off (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3577/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 24 January 2025.

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions to qualify for standard state pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 401 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard state pension (contributory).

In order to be admitted as a Voluntary Contributor a person must have paid at least 520 reckonable paid contributions. As the person concerned does not have the requisite 520 paid contributions they do not satisfy the conditions of the Voluntary Contribution Scheme.

As the person concerned also worked in Latvia, their record has been requested from the Latvian authorities. On receipt of the requested information, entitlement to a pro-rata pension based on their Irish and Latvian record will be examined.

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 €278.00, approximately 95% of the maximum rate of State Pension (contributory).

In September 2022, a series of landmark reforms to the state pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission were announced. One of the key measures under these reforms, which came into operation from the 1st January 2024 was the introduction of a flexible pension system. This allows those reaching state pension age to defer access to their state pension (contributory) to any age up to the age of 70 and receive an actuarially adjusted higher rate of payment. The person concerned can also use the period between 66 and 70 years of age to build up additional contributions to establish entitlement.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.