Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The homemaker's scheme, which was introduced by Fianna Fáil in 1994, makes qualification for the contributory State pension easier for those who have taken time out of the workforce for caring duties. It allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. However, a problem arises for people who took time out of the workforce prior to 1994, as the number of years over which contributions are averaged is greater, reducing the average number of weeks worked and greatly reducing their entitlement.

The Minister has said a lot and I am sure his experience in his clinics concurs with mine that women in particular are vulnerable in this situation. They seem to be the ones most affected by this inequity within the pensions system. The Minister referred to means-testing pensions, but that will not solve the problem as many women and men fall through the net in terms of qualifying and being entitled to the contributory State pension. I am pleased to hear measures are being taken at the moment to re-evaluate the situation, but I appeal to the Minister to take cognisance of this blatant inequality in the contributory State pension as so many women are losing out because of the anomaly and action is needed to bring equity for men and women who have given so much to society.

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