Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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553. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will examine the case of An Post pensioners who, having been civil servants prior to vesting in 1984, and having paid PRSI at Class D rates throughout their careers, are now excluded from receiving social welfare supports such as the Christmas bonus and cost-of-living payments; if he will consider options to address this disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31983/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of employment protected them against the main contingencies of illness and old age, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment.

Civil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D. Amongst the class B contributors are permanent and pensionable civil servants and Gardaí; the class C contributors are commissioned army officers and members of the army nursing service; and the class D contributors include permanent and pensionable employees in the public service, other than those insured at classes B and C.

Consequently, such contributors pay less in social insurance contributions in return for fewer social insurance benefits. For example, class D contributors currently pay a contribution at the rate of 1% on their weekly earnings up to €1,443 and 4.1% on weekly earnings over that amount; their employers pay a contribution of 2.45% on all employee earnings.

In contrast, civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay a higher social insurance contribution of 4.1% under PRSI class A on their weekly earnings; their employers pay a contribution of 8.9% where employees’ weekly earnings are €527 or less, and 11.15% where their employees’ weekly earnings exceed €527. Class A contributors have access to the full range of social insurance benefits.

Class D contributors are currently entitled to widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, guardian's payment (contributory), occupational injuries benefits, parent's benefit and carer's benefit.

The most recent Christmas bonus and cost of living payments, announced in Budget 2025, were targeted supports and increases to weekly social welfare payments, irrespective of the PRSI class a person in receipt of one of those payments had paid. Class D contributors in receipt of a payment qualifying for the Christmas bonus or the cost-of-living payments, such as the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, qualified for the additional payments on the same basis as any other recipients of those payments.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.