Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. Matters related to foster care, including any criteria relating to work, are the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and of Tusla.

The State contributory pension is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers. The payment rate reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. However, it is recognised that people may have periods out of the workforce for reasons such as caring responsibilities, including foster caring. Accordingly, the State contributory pension provides measures such as PRSI credits, home-making disregards and home-caring periods to recognise these periods of care outside paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of PRSI credits and home-making disregards and home-caring periods where they meet the criteria, in the same way as biological or adoptive parents. There is no difference in treatment. Foster carers can register for caring periods for each child under the age of 12 if in receipt of child benefit. If a foster carer is not in receipt of child benefit, they can still qualify provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla. In the case of a child who is over the age of 12, periods can be registered where the child requires continuous supervision and regular assistance throughout the day with the activities of daily living, including nursing care. There is a maximum of 20 years' caring periods available.

In addition, long-term carer's contributions are available that attribute the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated people to cover gaps in their contribution record for State contributory pension purposes.

Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated person for a cumulative period of over 20 years are eligible for these contributions.

Officials from my Department have actively engaged with the Department of children and Tulsa on this matter, met representative foster carers and hosted an information seminar for nearly 300 foster carers to explain the State pension system and their entitlements.

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