Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will clarify whether the homemaker’s scheme or homemaker’s disregard provisions apply in this instance; the options that exist to retrospectively address PRSI contribution shortfalls for individuals who left the workforce before these schemes were properly publicised or widely understood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57599/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 3 August 2022. An application for State pension (contributory) was received on 20 July 2022.

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 63 full-rate paid contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard State pension (contributory).

To qualify for a mixed insurance pension based on their full-rate and modified-rate contributions, 520 paid contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate paid contributions with the remainder made up of modified-rate paid contributions. As the person concerned has 63 full-rate paid contributions, this falls short of the requisite 260 full-rate paid contributions needed for the mixed insurance pension.

In general, public servants who joined prior to 6 April 1995 paid modified-rate contributions which alone are not reckonable for State pension (contributory). However, such employees generally have entitlement to an occupational pension from their employment, the rate of which is related to a number of factors, including years of service.

In relation to caring periods, Home Caring Periods cannot be used to satisfy the reckonable full-rate paid contribution requirement. Both Home Caring Periods and the Homemaker's disregard may only be used to enhance or increase the rate of entitlement where claimants meet the other qualifying conditions, including the number of full-rate contributions. If the person concerned was caring for at least 1,040 weeks (20 years) for an incapacitated person or persons, they may qualify for Long Term Carers Contributions which can be used to satisfy the 520 requirement. The person concerned can apply online via their MyWelfare account under the Pension Caring Supports option.

Where a person aged 66 or over does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a State pension (contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:

The State pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 96% of the State pension (contributory); or

An Increase for a Qualified Adult allowance on their spouse/partner’s State pension which is a means-tested payment (based on the means of the qualified adult), with a maximum payment of 90% of the State Pension (contributory).

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.