Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
288. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that persons who are fostering children are not entitled to accumulate credits to go towards their pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50825/22]
View answerMatters related to foster caring are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla.
More widely, this Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides for a range of measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate. Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of the Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods, on the same basis as other carers, and will qualify if the carer is in receipt of Child Benefit. If the foster carer is not in receipt of Child Benefit, s/he can still qualify for Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla.
The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine sustainability and eligibility issues in respect of the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The terms of reference included consideration of how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependants can be accommodated within the State Pension system. The Commission’s Report was published on 7th October 2021 and it set out a wide-range of recommendations, including enhanced pension provision for long-term carers.
I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September 2022. The measures, which were approved by Cabinet, are in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system. One of the reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for long-term carers of incapacitated dependents (who have been caring in excess of 20 years), as recommended by the Pensions Commission, and to be introduced from January 2024. This will be implemented through:
- A scheme to ensure that long-term carers can be attributed with contributions for gaps in their contribution record arising from their time spent caring; and
- The establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'.
My officials are working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary. As part of the work to implement the new scheme, relevant Government Departments, and other stakeholders, will examine options for the creation of a statutory ‘Family Carer Register’ to help identify long-term carers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
