Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society, as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32967/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Matters relating to foster care and kinship care are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them. The State Pension (Contributory) system provides a range of measures to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment, such as 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.Foster carers are entitled to benefit from these measures on the same basis as other carers and parents. They may qualify if they are in receipt of Child Benefit. If they are not in receipt of Child Benefit, they can still qualify for Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla. Since January 2024, long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 contributions required for eligibility.Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated dependent or dependents for over 20 years also benefit from this provision. Officials from my Department have met with representatives of foster carers, Tusla and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to explain the State pension system and the entitlements available for foster carers.Any further potential changes to the State Pension (Contributory) would have to be be considered having regard to the overall policy and legal contexts underpinning the State pension system.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.