Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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281. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a scheme of credits can be constructed for women who were mandatorily required to leave the workforce due to implementation of the marriage bar, and whereby their entitlement to pensions has been severely curtailed due to a provision which was grounded upon inequality, and if same will now be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15667/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The marriage bar was a condition of the employment in the public service until 1973. Issues relating to public sector employment and pensions are the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In general, civil and public servants recruited at that time paid a modified rate of PRSI (i.e. not the full Class A rate) which gave coverage for widow(er)'s and orphan's pensions, occupational injury benefit, bereavement grant and carer’s benefit only. It did not provide cover for the State pension. The modified rate of social insurance was a condition of employment for public servants at that time. Accordingly, even if those affected by the marriage bar had continued in employment, contributions paid at this rate would not have given entitlement to a State pension (contributory) under the social welfare system.

The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for State pension contributory (SPC) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age, or incapacitated people, to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being calculated for pension purposes. The effect of this is to reduce the number of years by which the person’s contributions are divided, thereby increasing their yearly average, making it easier for them to qualify for a maximum rate SPC. However, it is important to note that the homemaker’s scheme will not, of itself, qualify a person for a SPC. The standard qualifying conditions for the SPC must also be satisfied. These require a person to enter insurable employment at least ten years before pension age, pay a minimum of 520 contributions at the correct rate (credited contributions do not satisfy this condition) and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions paid or credited on their record.

For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), the State pension system provides alternative methods of support. If someone has been a carer for nearly all of their adult life and has paid little or no PRSI, they may qualify for a means tested State pension (non-contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is €219, which amounts to just over 95% of the maximum rate of the State pension (contributory). Alternatively, if their spouse or civil partner is in receipt of a State pension (contributory) they may instead qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult of up to €206.30, which is just under 90% of the maximum personal rate of the State pension (contributory).