Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
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302. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the homemaker's scheme will be extended to include access to free dental acre, eye tests and GP care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22687/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Homemakers Scheme and Homecaring Periods are specific Pension Caring Supports within the State Pension system that give significant recognition to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role. They are not qualifying contributions for the State Pension (Contributory) but can be used once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions to help enhance the rate a person receives.

The Homemaker's Scheme was introduced on 6 April 1994 to help those who left the workforce to take care of a child under the age of 12 or an incapacitated person receive a higher rate of payment for the State Pension (contributory).

This scheme does not award credits, but rather disregards qualifying years since 1994, up to a maximum of 20 years, from the Yearly Average (YA) method of calculating rate of pay for the contributory pension.

The Total Contributions Approach (TCA) method of calculating rate of pay for the contributory pension was introduced in 2018. HomeCaring Periods, up to a maximum of 20 years, are awarded to those who take care of a child under the age of 12 or provide full time care to an incapacitated person. These periods are not PRSI credits and can only be used in the TCA method of calculating the rate of pay for those who qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).

Given the specific purpose of the Homemakers Disregard and HomeCaring Periods it would not be appropriate to try to extend them to other functions outside of the calculation of payment rates for the State Pension (Contributory).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.