Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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291. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person residing in Ireland, and their home is in another EU Member State, can have that home assessed under the means test for a State pension (non-contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26685/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State pension (contributory) or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.

Earnings from employment, self employment, occupational pensions, and foreign pensions are assessed as means. The value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant holds, are also assessed.

Any property, other that the one in which a person is residing, is assessable and must be included in the assessment of means, when establishing a person’s State pension non-contributory entitlement.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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292. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is a timeframe for a person transferring their home to one of their children that would affect the means test on their State pension (non-contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26687/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State pension (contributory) or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.

Earnings from employment, self employment, occupational pensions, and foreign pensions are included in the means assessment. The value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant holds, are also assessed.

As indicated above, a person's home is not included in the means assessment for state pension (non-contributory). If a person sells their primary residence and moves to more suitable accommodation, the proceeds of the sale up to €337,500 may be disregarded when assessing their weekly means.

In accordance with Part 3 of the Third Schedule of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, if it appears that any person, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, directly or indirectly deprived himself or herself of any income or property in order to qualify for the receipt of the pension or allowance in question, or for the receipt of the pension or allowance at a higher rate than that to which he or she would otherwise be entitled, that income or the value of that property shall for the purpose of these rules be taken to be part of the means of that person. The legislation does not specify a timeframe.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.