Submission 274
May 08
Green Paper Submission
My wife and I attended the Dublin Seminar and were assigned to workshop 2.
During our deliberations it became apparent that there was a lot of unhappiness in the way which people are assessed for Contributory State Pensions.
In my own case, in December1955, whilst on vacation from my studies, I secured a two week post as a temporary Postman. This job was temporary with no prospect of full-time employment. After Christmas vacations, I returned to [college name] to complete my studies by Dec 1956.
Once qualified, I went abroad to work and I did not return to Ireland to work until 1981. Going abroad for employment was a common event in those days.
When Mr S Brennan was appointed Minister for Social Affairs, he stated that two of his priorities were to alleviate the hardship and anomalies. I feel I fall into either of these categories because of these two contributions paid in 1955, when I was legally still considered a minor.
Although I have in excess of 530 contributions I have been assessed as being entitled to a pension of €111.70 per week. I understand that a person can enter the system at the age of 55, work for 10 years and qualify for a full rate Contributory Pension. I feel that people should be assessed on contributions paid over a reasonable period and not a whole lifetime of 48 years employment from the fifties, when the employment climate in Ireland was very poor indeed.
