Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2024
476. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the options are available to stay-at-home parents who wish to qualify for the State Contributory Pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25292/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis 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 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, provided the minimum of 520 (10 years) qualifying social insurance contributions have been paid.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory), for example, they may have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 520 paid contributions. This was recognised by the Pension Commission in its report which recommended that long-term carers of incapacitated dependents should be given access to the State Pension (Contributory) and defined long-term caring as caring for an incapacitated dependent for more than 20 years.Last December, I enacted a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. 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 key pension reform measures enacted is the introduction of enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more. It does this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to these long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record for the periods that they were caring for an incapacitated dependent.
This measure is available to individuals who reached State Pension age from 1 January 2024 and is also available to people currently over pension age, but they will only receive a State Pension (Contributory) or enhanced pension from 1st January 2024 where eligible.Last year, my Department launched an online system for people to register for long term caring contributions prior to reaching pensionable age to facilitate the expeditious processing of these periods to their contribution record.I am very pleased that the legislation to give effect to these measures was enacted in December and the scheme came into operation on 1st January 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
