Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
581. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending access to the State pension to foster carers so that they can receive contributions for time spent caring for vulnerable children; if the Minister has commenced work on this Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37522/25]
View answerMatters relating to foster care are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. The State Pension (Contributory) system already provides a range of measures to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment, such as 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 benefit from these measures on the same basis as other carers and parents. They may qualify if they are in receipt of Child Benefit. If they are not in receipt of Child Benefit, they can still qualify for Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory), particularly in meeting the minimum requirement of 10 years' paid contributions.
Since January 2024, long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 contributions required for eligibility.
Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated dependent or dependents for over 20 years also benefit from this provision.
These measures combined strike a balance between assisting foster carers to access the State pension system in the same way as biological or adoptive parents, while ensuring that the system remains sustainable.
The Department does not hold data on the number of foster carers who would have sufficient social insurance contributions to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory), credited contributions and other related information. It is, therefore, not possible to provide an estimate of further extending the State Pension (Contributory) to foster carers.
Officials from my Department have met with representatives of foster carers, Tusla and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to explain the State pension system and the entitlements available for foster carers.
Any future changes to State Pension system would have to be considered in an overall policy and legal contexts underpinning the State pension system, with consideration of the budgetary context and the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
