Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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41. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to afford a full stamp to persons who are in receipt of the carer's allowance in order that, in the event of their carer's job ending, they are eligible for full benefits and in recognition of the service they are providing to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11642/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The new partnership Government is committed to supporting carers through an increase in carer’s benefit and allowance. Credited contributions, normally known as credits, are awarded to recipients of carer’s benefit and of carer’s allowance where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Recipients of these payments qualify for credits where they have at least one paid contribution in the previous two years or have had credited contributions in that period. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid carer’s leave from work. Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as during periods spent caring. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes.

In addition, all carers, including those who do not qualify for a payment or for credits, may qualify for the homemaker scheme. The homemaker’s scheme is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for state pension (contributory). Years spent caring on a full-time basis are disregarded when calculating the state pension (contributory) rate of payment.

Through the award of credits and the homemaker’s scheme, the social insurance system already gives significant recognition of the service provided by carers. Awarding paid contributions would be contrary to the principle that entitlement to social insurance benefits, as a right, is directly linked to the actual payment of PRSI contributions on income and to do so would have cost implications.

My priority is to make progress on the commitment in our Programme regarding the level of support for carers.