Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will use any of the information we have in the Department on domiciliary care allowance, carer’s support grant or carer's allowance. We are trying to make sure people who have genuinely been caring for more than 20 years get the benefit of this. It is important that they get this pension. They have cared all their lives and find that when they come to pension age, because of their partner's income, they cannot get anything because it is means-tested. We are trying to deal with this. We expect to have the legislation in the second half of this year.

Deputy Sherlock can appreciate that there is a bit of work to be done in trying to make sure we get it right. That is the most important thing. We are working on it as we speak. As I said, I am looking forward to getting those reports from the joint Oireachtas committee. We want to move this on and these are two big changes. State pension reform and auto-enrolment are fundamental changes we are making to the system and a good deal of work is involved. I have many people working on it who have spent much time on it already.

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