Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2026
144. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has paid a D class stamp all their working lives, will qualify for any State payments including the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40473/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCivil 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.
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 retirement, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment.
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 1.1% on their weekly earnings up to €1,443 and 4.2% on weekly earnings over that amount and their employers pay a contribution of 2.55% on all employee earnings. Class D contributors are currently entitled to Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Guardian's Payment (Contributory), Occupational Injuries Benefits, Parent's Benefit and Carer's Benefit.
Class D contributions are not reckonable for the purpose of entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory) and as such a person who has paid Class D for their entire working life does not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory).
Civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995, and those employed in the private sector, pay a class A social insurance contribution of 4.2% on their weekly earnings. Their employers pay a contribution of 9.0% where employees’ weekly earnings are €552 or less and 11.25% where their employees’ weekly earnings exceed €552. Class A contributors have access to the full range of social insurance benefits, including the State Pension (Contributory). However, the value of the State Pension (Contributory) is integrated with their public service pension (in the case of those recruited after 6 April 1995 and before 1 January 2013), unlike those pre-April 1995 civil and public servants who receive their full pension entitlement under their public service pension. Matters relating to the pension entitlements of public servants are a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is available to those who satisfy a means test and who are ordinarily resident in the state, regardless of their social insurance contribution history.
Access to other benefits available from my Department that are not dependent on receipt of a primary payment or are available subject to satisfying a means test or reaching a specified age may be available to class D contributors provided the underlying conditionality is met. These include the Fuel Allowance, the Household Benefits Package and the Free Travel Scheme.
