Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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32. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the intended timeframe to introduce legislation underpinning the provision of pensions to carers. [5848/23]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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35. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to increase the pension entitlements of full-time family carers. [6115/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 35 together.

This Government acknowledges the important contribution that carers provide and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workforce, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. PRSI Credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension. They may, for example, have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 years paid contributions.

I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in September. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.

One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record and by establishing a register of family carers for this purpose.

Department officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems for implementation by January 2024.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.