Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to consider reducing the current 20-year minimum criterion of full-time caring to an incapacitated person under the long-term carers contribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37625/24]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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This question relates to people taking time from work to care, very often for family members, and enabling them to qualify for a pension. There are situations involving older people in particular who take time off later in their career who cannot fulfil the 20-year criterion by the time they reach pension age.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the State pension system gives 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. Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependants faced barriers in accessing the State pension - contributory.

Based on a programme for Government commitment, the Pensions Commission was asked to consider how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependants can be accommodated within the State pension system. The commission engaged in a public consultation process and had the benefit of presentations from Family Carer's Ireland and the National Women's Council in forming its recommendations on the proposals and the period of care. The commission recommended that long-term carers should be given access to the State pension - contributory - and defined long-term caring as caring for more than 20 years.

I was very pleased to implement this important recommendation and, 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 will be 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.

Where a person has less than 20 years caring, they may be entitled to avail of up to 20 years home-caring periods or homemaker's scheme, subject to existing qualification conditions of having 520 paid contributions. These measures combined strike the right balance between ensuring that all carers can access the State pension system, while ensuring that the system remains sustainable.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge that a great effort has been made and that it does work for so many people who were carrying out that hugely important caring role, but there are situations that arise where a person cannot make up 20 years. Those cases very likely involve people who took on the caring role later in life – in their 40s, 50s or later – and they cannot make up the 20 years by the time they reach pension age.

A case in point is Mike, who worked with the HSE. He retired in his 50s in order to care for his wife and he will be unable to make up the 20 years by the time he reaches pension age, and therefore he will not qualify and will have a very reduced income. He will face a situation where he is means-tested, which will leave him in a disadvantaged position. Such carers play a hugely significant role.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister review the situation for them?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I take the point he makes that if a person takes on a caring role later in life, he or she will not have spent 20 years caring.

We introduced this in January this year. Like all of these schemes, it has to bed in. I followed the recommendations of the Pensions Commission. As I said, it carried out a lot of consultation. I am always happy to look at these things. Our intention is to help people who genuinely had to give up work and cannot go back to work because of their caring responsibilities. I am happy to take a look at that. As I said, the scheme has only been in place since January and it is important that it beds in.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. The modifications that were made were very beneficial, especially for people who are caring for children throughout much of their life. This situation arises for people who take on a caring role later in life, in their 40s, 50s and 60s. I would welcome an opportunity to review the scheme and include it in any of the next steps that will be taken. Is there any indication of a timeframe or was review carried out as part of that process? It would be helpful if there was any indication on that.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy outlined a specific case where someone had retired and was going to look after his wife. There are situations where a person with fewer than 20 years of caring may be entitled to avail of home caring periods or the homemaker scheme, subject to existing qualification conditions. I do not think the person in the case the Deputy mentioned would qualify under that scheme. This scheme has only been in place since January this year. Like all schemes in my Department, we will review it and determine whether we can do something better or make changes. I take on board the case the Deputy has outlined and I will speak to my officials about it. I will not give him a promise that it will be fixed straight away, but we will certainly look at it.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are proceeding faster than usual. Minister, am I right in saying that you can deal with up to Question No. 17. Am I right in that?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can take Questions Nos. 17, 18, 19 and 20.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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All right. We can keep going.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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The Minister will take up to Question No. 20.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As far as Question No. 20-----

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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That is what I have now, but I might take more. There could be more to come.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will go back to Deputy Ó Laoghaire's-----

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I do not mind; we can go back if you wish.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does Deputy Wynne have a Priority Question?

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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No, I am after that.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will go back.