Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the process, and reasons why people who are seeking to pay voluntary PRSI contributions cannot do so in terms of their period since their last employment; the number of contributions required under this scheme in the first place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22637/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the voluntary contributions scheme is to provide persons who were, but are no longer, compulsorily insured under the social insurance system with the opportunity to pay contributions directly to my Department. Voluntary contributions ensure continuity of social insurance for pension purposes during periods where former contributors are no longer insured as employed or self-employed persons or are not in receipt of credited employment contributions.

The scheme’s entry criteria require applicants to have at least 520 social insurance contributions paid from either employment or self-employment. Furthermore, an application must be made within 60 months (five years) of the end of the contribution year during which the applicant last paid a compulsory social insurance contribution or was last awarded a credited employment contribution.

This 60 months application time limit was significantly extended in 2017, previously having been 12 months. This change substantially widened the opportunity for individuals to participate in the scheme. Over recent years, the proportion of voluntary contributions applications rejected on the grounds of being outside of the 60 months limit has been very low at approximately 8%.

I am satisfied that the current qualifying criteria for the voluntary contribution scheme achieves a fair balance between a person already having a meaningful attachment to the Irish social insurance system through the minimum number of paid contributions from either employment or self-employment and also by having an appropriate application time limit.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.