Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1042. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to examine the case of a person (details supplied); if he will support this query; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11902/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 24 January 2025. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received on 5 November 2024.

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate contributions paid in the State to qualify for standard State Pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equates to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.

The records of my Department show the person concerned has 401 paid contributions and 750 credited contributions in Ireland. A decision letter issued on 26 November 2024 to advise that they did not qualify for the standard pension.

As the person concerned indicated on their application form that they also worked in Latvia, they are being considered for a pro-rata State pension (contributory) under EU Regulations, based on a combination of their Irish and Latvian contributions. One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of this pension is that the person concerned must have a combined total of 520 full-rate reckonable contributions between Ireland and Latvia.

A request for the insurance record of the person concerned was sent to the Latvian authorities on 15 January 2025. Once this is received by my Department, their entitlement to a pro-rata EU pension will be examined and a decision letter will issue.

Where a person aged 66 or over does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for State Pension (contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, it is open to them to apply for the State Pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of €278.00 per week, which is over 95% of the maximum State pension (contributory).

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.