Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2023
234. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 6 December 2022, if those people already receiving a pension on a reduced rate due to extended caring responsibilities of over twenty years will have their pension reviewed and increased once the new enhanced State pension is implemented in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9316/23]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the important contribution that carers provide and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. PRSI Credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension. They may, for example, have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 years' paid contributions.
As the Deputy is aware, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in September. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record and by establishing a register of family carers for this purpose.
Department officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems for implementation by January 2024. This will include identifying the eligibility criteria for those who will be attributed the equivalent of paid contributions for periods of long-term caring.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
