Ms Catherine Cox:

I can and it is good news. There will be a pension. Long-term carers, who have done caring work for 20 years or more, will now have their contribution recognised for a pension. It is not a new pension for carers, rather their caring years will be recognised.

We have worked with the Department of Social Protection on a pilot register and carers have registered over the last number of weeks. Anybody who is providing care, even if they are not of pension age or close to it, should register today and over the next few weeks because when they come to pension age, they will have their contributions recognised. The register is on the Department's website and it goes live from January 2024. That is an extremely positive move. We have fought long and hard for such recognition for many years, my colleague, Clare Duffy, in particular. The provision means that carers who have been caring for 20 years or more will have their contribution recognised and valued. I urge carers to register on the website as soon as possible.