Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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650. 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. [51721/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Matters relating to foster carers, previously foster parents, 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 already 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.