Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 13 October 2011 if, considering specific provision is made to ensure that time spent on maternity leave does not compromise compliance with the employment condition of entitlement to carer's benefit, she will introduce similar provision and allow credited contributions accrued on maternity leave to count towards the PRSI contribution condition for carer's benefit. [32581/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The current conditions are designed to ensure that those qualifying for carer's benefit have had an adequate and sustained commitment to the social insurance system, thereby upholding the contributory principle that underpins the qualifying conditions for all social insurance payments.

The social insurance system is based on two fundamental principles - the contributory principle whereby there is a direct link between contributions paid and entitlement to a varying range of benefits and pensions that are payable as a right - if and when particular contingencies arise, and the solidarity principle whereby contributions paid by insured persons are not actuarially linked to benefits but are instead redistributed to support contributors who are more vulnerable. It is an expression of solidarity between both earning groups and generations.

I have no plans to amend the PRSI contributions requirement for carer's benefit.

An applicant who does not qualify for carer's benefit may qualify for carer's allowance. The means test for carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €59,300 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel, household benefits package.