Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1239.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if pension entitlements being worked on for carers by her Department at present will be extended to long-term foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31135/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Matters related to foster caring, including any criteria relating to work and specific financial supports, are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla.

The State Pension (Contributory) is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. However, it is recognised that people may have periods out of the workforce for reasons such as caring responsibilities, including foster caring. Accordingly, the State Pension (Contributory) provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and Homecaring periods to recognise these periods of care outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of PRSI credits and Homemaking Disregards and Homecaring periods where they meet the criteria, in the same way as biological or adoptive parents. There is no difference in treatment. Fosters carers can register for caring periods for each child under the age of 12 if the foster carer is in receipt of Child Benefit. If the foster carer is not in receipt of Child Benefit, they can still qualify provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla. In the case of a child who is over the age of 12, periods can be registered where the child requires continuous supervision and regular assistance throughout the day with the activities of daily living, including nursing care. There is a maximum of 20 years’ caring periods available.

In addition, last year legislation was enacted to implement a series of landmark reforms for enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more. Where a person has not been in a position to satisfy the minimum of 520 paid contributions condition for pension purposes due to the time spent caring for an incapacitated dependent, they may be entitled to long-term carer's contributions. 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. This is done by attributing the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated dependents to cover gaps in their contribution record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes. These contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to satisfy the minimum 520 contributions condition.

Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated person or persons for a cumulative period of over 20 years are eligible for long term carers contributions.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.