Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

An analysis undertaken in the 2007 Green Paper on pensions, published by the previous Government, identified that to backdate the payment to 1953 when the current pensions system was introduced would cost €160 million. Even backdating the payment to 1973 would still involve substantial costs. I propose to keep this under review. However, I have to be honest with the Deputy. Every year social welfare pays out an extra €200 million to €300 million in pensions because we, happily, have many more older people living longer. With this increased population in retirement, I would find it difficult with the current budgetary restrictions to find an extra €160 million per year to cover the homemakers scheme. I will keep this issue under constant review.

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