Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are plans to introduce new legislation to further recognise and support homemakers in relation to non-contributory pension schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6610/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Social Protection provides income supports through a mixture of contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. To receive either a contributory or social assistance payment a person must qualify for that payment in their own right.The State Pension (Contributory) requires 520 (equivalent to 10 years) paid contributions to qualify for the payment. Once this threshold is reached the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

In January 2024 the Long Term Carers Contributions were introduced which allowed for those who provided full time care to incapacitated individuals to receive reckonable contributions for the time spent giving that care, provided they cared for at least 20 years. Those years do not need to be consecutive. Long Term Carers Contribution are considered the equivalent of paid contributions and can be used to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).

The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested social assistance payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.

The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in ensuring that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

Social welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. The means assessment includes income from sources such as employment, self-employment, occupational pensions and maintenance payments. It also includes property owned, other than the family home, and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments. Income earned under the rent-a-room tax relief scheme is exempt from the means test.

Accordingly, the numbers of contributions or credits (e.g., homecaring periods) a person has is not a factor in determining the rate under the State Pension (Non-Contributory).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.