Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to develop a pension solution for family carers that recognises their important work. [35287/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” includes a commitment to examine options for a pension solution for carers, the majority of whom are women, and particularly for carers of incapacitated children, in recognition of the enormous value of the work carried out by them. This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role.

As the Deputy is aware, the Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. As part of its Terms of Reference the Commission has been asked to consider how the State pension system can further accommodate long-term carers. Details on the Commission's work, including agendas, minutes and presentations made to the Commission, are available on its website, PensionsCommission.gov.ie.

As part of its work the Commission held a public consultation process. The Pensions Commission’s consultation document "Have your Say on Sustainable State Pensions into the future" identified "those who provide long-term care for most of their working age lives," as a group in which the Commission was particularly interested. The Commission asked interested individuals and organisations to send in written submissions by post or by email, or to respond to an online survey. The Commission received 200 individual and organisational submissions and over 1,100 survey responses were received. Some of these responses addressed issues related to long-term carers.

The Commission invited relevant stakeholder groups, such as Family Carers Ireland and the National Women's Council of Ireland, to discuss with members issues facing family carers in relation to the State pension system. The National Women's Council of Ireland was also a panellist at the Commission’s virtual Stakeholder Forum.

Once it has concluded its deliberations, the Commission will submit its recommendations to me in the coming weeks. I look forward to reading the Commission's recommendations for long-term carers. The Government has committed to taking action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within 6 months of receiving the Commission's report.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.