asked the Minister for Social Welfare the way in which an old age pension is calculated in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and the arrears included in it.

The person concerned claimed contributory old age pension on 25 March 1982 and under the regulations he was awarded pension from 25 December 1981, which is three months before the date of claim. He was issued with a pension book containing orders payable from 2 April 1982 and the arrears for the period from 25 December 1981 to 1 April 1982 amounting to £732.20 were sent to him by means of a payable order on 28 July 1982. The pension at present being paid to him is £65.40 a week, made up of the personal rate of £39.70 plus £25.70 in respect of his wife. This will be increased to a total of £73.25 a week from 1 July 1983.

The rate of pension has been calculated on the basis of a yearly average of 43 qualifying contributions from 5 January 1953 to 5 April 1979. He would require a yearly average of at least 48 contributions to qualify for the maximum rate of pension.