Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 3 November 2011, in which she rejected a proposal to allow credited contributions accrued on maternity leave to count towards the PRSI contribution condition for carer's benefit by stating that the condition is designed to ensure that those qualifying for carer's benefit have an adequate and sustained commitment to the social insurance system, her view the act of going on maternity is an indication of an inadequate and unsustained commitment to the social insurance system. [36253/11]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 13 October 2011, if, in view of the fact that 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. [36254/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together.

Clearly it is not my view that "the act of going on maternity is an indication of an inadequate and unsustained commitment to the social insurance system". The contributory principle, however, does rely on adequate real contributions being made to fund the system. As outlined in previous replies there is a 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.

A person on maternity leave will avail of maternity benefit if she has made sufficient contributions and if she has sufficient contributions prior to maternity leave she may avail of carer's benefit. Otherwise she may apply for carer's allowance, which as I mentioned in previous replies, has one of the most generous means tests within the welfare system. To maintain an adequate system of social protection for everyone, as well as achieving future economic stability and growth , we have to ensure sustainable public finances through a determined deficit reduction strategy. Given the current economic situation we are not in a position to consider the effective expansion of eligibility for any of our schemes and I have no plans to amend the PRSI contributions requirement for carer's benefit.