Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I am not sure what Senator Higgins thinks people are missing out on. The home caring credit was introduced purely for the purposes of pension calculations because we all know and recognise how women were penalised for staying at home and rearing their children. Some men were penalised for staying at home and minding elderly relatives. That system has been rectified. Home caring credits of up to 15 years can be allocated towards TCA12. I cannot tell Senator Higgins what TCA2020 will be until it is decided, but we recognise the value of home caring towards contributions for pensions.

As per the previous amendment, anybody who does not exist in the social welfare system has equal access, through our Intreo offices, to all of the supports, training and employment opportunities which are available to everybody else. Even if somebody was a stay-at-home mother for 20 years, if she walks into an Intreo office we will give her all of the support necessary to return to education or training or avail of any of the grant schemes that are available in the same way that we would assist anybody else who is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or benefit or disability or invalidity payments.