876. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) who has been waiting three years for a decision; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1249/25]

Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 7 June 2022. To qualify for IP, a claimant must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution years before the relevant date of their claim.

The person in question does not have the required 260 paid PRSI contributions in Ireland. The claim was refused on 1 July 2022 on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied and the person referred to was notified of the decision on the same date.

As the person concerned had previously worked in Romania, a request was made to the Romanian Authorities for their social insurance contribution record. As is the procedure in such instances, an application was also made on her behalf to the Romanian Authorities for an equivalent IP payment from them. Her contribution record has now been received and she satisfies the contribution conditions for a pro-rata Invalidity Pension under Bilateral/EU Regulations. However, she must also satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme.

The Romanian Authorities have requested a detailed medical report (DMR) for the application with them which was made on behalf of the person in question by my Department. When completed, the same DMR will be used to establish if she satisfies the medical conditions for her IP claim here. The DMR was first requested from my Department's Medical Review & Assessment (MRA) Area on 18 April 2023 but has not been completed to date. Following further contact with MRA section, a Medical Assessor has now requested further medical evidence from the person referred to in order to complete the DMR and this information was requested from her by letter on 16 January 2025. When the additional medical information is received, it may be the case that the person concerned will be requested to attend for an in-person medical assessment for the purposes of completing the DMR. If an in-person medical assessment is required, arrangements will be made to have an appointment arranged for the individual in question at the earliest possible date.

The person referred to is currently in receipt of a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment from my Department and she will continue to receive this payment while a decision is awaited on her IP application. The information also available to my Department indicates she may have an entitlement to Widows Contributory Pension and an application for this payment has issued to her.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.