Ben Briscoe
Ceist:114 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the payments, benefits allowances or entitlements which are available to married men who choose to stay at home to mind their children. [7229/97]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The social welfare code provides for equal treatment of men and women.
Child benefit, is payable in respect of all children. Under the "Homemaker" provisions introduced in 1994, up to 20 contribution years spent working in the home while caring on a full-time basis for a child up to age 12 years of age or an incapacitated person, are disregarded in calculating a person's yearly average number of contributions for old age (contributory) pension. Under these provisions, credited contributions may also be awarded in respect of the contribution year in which a person commences, or ceases to be, a homemaker.
The administrative arrangements governing the scheme are at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position shortly to make the necessary regulations to give effect to these arrangements. This will increase entitlement to the old age (contributory) pension by calculating the pension over the period in the paid workforce.