Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024
281. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Department of Social Protection to realise recommendation 41.2 of Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (0-24) 2023-2028 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5796/24]
View answerI am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of genuine concern for foster carers.
The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to the benefits of this scheme, on the same basis as other carers, once certain qualifying criteria are met.
Further, the Report of the Pensions Commission contains a recommendation in respect of long-term carers. Specifically, the Commission recommends that long-term carers who care for incapacitated dependents (defined as caring for more than 20 years) should be given access to the State Pension (Contributory) by having retrospective contributions paid for them by the Exchequer when approaching pension age for any gaps in their contribution history arising from caring. I can advise that officials from my Department have been engaging with their counterparts in the Department of Social Protection on this issue. While I understand that foster carers who care for an incapacitated dependent and meet the required eligibility criteria will be eligible in respect of this measure, my officials are continuing to engage with the Department of Social Protection in relation to the specific definitions in the context of any potential broader application to foster children more generally.
As you have noted, the Young Ireland National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023 - 2028, which was launched by my Department in November 2023, includes a related action in respect of State pension eligibility for foster carers. Action 41.2 commits the Department of Social Protection to:
“Consider the credits available to foster carers for periods of time spent caring with a view to supporting eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory), and also include foster carers within the proposed changes to attribute contributions for periods of long-term care (over 20 years) when caring for an incapacitated dependent.”
My Department has not to date received a request from the Department of Social Protection to engage in discussions in relation to this commitment. However, it should be noted that the timeline specified for this commitment is 2026.
I can assure the Deputy that my officials and I will continue to work closely with Government colleagues seeking to improve foster carers eligibility in respect of the State Pension (Contributory) and to progress the commitments contained within the Young Ireland National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023 – 2028.
