asked the Minister for Social Welfare if employees of universities who have had social welfare contributions deducted from their salary are entitled to a contributory old age pension on retirement.

All employees of universities who pay social welfare contributions at the ordinary rate giving entitlement to all benefits under the Social Welfare Acts may qualify for contributory old age pension on attaining age 66 years provided that they satisfy the statutory contribution conditions for such pension. The contribution conditions for contributory old age pension are as follows: 1. The claimant must have entered insurance before the prescribed age. (This varies between age 56 and age 60 depending on the claimant's date of birth); 2. He/she must have 156 contributions paid; 3. He/she must have an average of at least 20 contributions paid and/or credited from 1953 (or from date of entry into insurance if this is later than 1953) up to the end of the last complete contribution year before attainment of pension age.

In recent years, most universities revised their sick pay schemes for their permanent and pensionable employees and applied to my Department for a decision as to the rate of social insurance contribution payable in respect of them.

As those bodies are public authorities and as their sick pay privileges were regarded as adequate for the purposes of the Social Welfare Acts, it was decided that a modified rate of contribution was payable in respect of their permanent and pensionable employees. This modified rate of contribution does not confer title to old age contributory pension.

All such persons will qualify for a pension in their own right from the universities when they reach pension age.

In other words, they are better off than a Member of the Dáil. They can contribute and can get an old age pension.

The Deputy seems to be very worried at this stage about his old age pension.

I am worried about all the benefits of all the Members of the House.

I am calling Question No. 12.

12.