2026-06-18

11. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to examine pension provisions for foster carers; when he expects this to be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46325/26]

Matters relating to foster care are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister, Deputy Foley. However, the Government acknowledges the very important role of all carers, including foster carers. We remain fully committed to supporting them. Once the minimum requirement of ten years' paid contributions is met, the State contributory pension system provides a range of measures to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment. These include PRSI credits, homemaking disregards and home caring periods. Homemaking disregards and home caring periods 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 family carers and parents. Questions of equity would arise if access to pension benefits was afforded to any of these groups, including foster parents and carers, on a preferential basis. Since January 2024, long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to those who have cared for incapacitated persons for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State contributory pension entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum ten years of paid contributions required for eligibility. Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated dependent or dependents for over 20 years also benefit from this provision. These measures assist foster carers to access the State pension system and recognise the years spent caring for children in the same way as biological or adoptive parents while ensuring that our pension system remains sustainable. Changes to any aspect of the State pension system have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context including the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund. I am very much aware of the importance of their work. I am happy to work with the Deputy on any proposals he may have in this space over the lifetime of the Government.

There are nearly 4,000 foster parents in Ireland who open their homes long term to children who often come from difficult and traumatic starts in life. The Minister has met them, as have I. It is a vocation for those families. At times, I wonder how they do it because of the workload involved, but they are really committed. Part of the challenge is that the number seems to be dwindling. There were over 4,000 a few years ago. Now, there are 3,800 foster parents who have 6,000 children in their care. I do not want to see a move away from a really good family-based environment for those children either back into institutional care or into private care where they will lose the family connection built up with those children. Everything we can do to encourage parents to get involved and keep them in that area is to be welcomed and explored. I appreciate the challenged the Minister set out but looking at pension provision should be part of that.

I agree; an extraordinary service is provided. It gives stability and changes outcomes which would otherwise be very different. Tusla manages the foster parent-foster carer system. It pays the foster carer allowance which is €400 per week for per child under 12 and €425 per child 12 or over. That is to offset expenses. Accordingly, it does not affect tax. It is not assessed as a means for social assistance payments. We will look at further supports but anything we do in the State pension context has to have the overall sustainability of the State and equity in mind. I would love to be able to give the Deputy a guarantee around that but I have to look at those elements as well in terms of our pension system and facing the challenges we discussed in the previous discussion with Deputy McAuliffe. I agree with the Deputy on the vital work being done. The Minister, Deputy Foley, worked closely with me in relation to this matter. We want to continue to work with foster carers.

I welcome the Minister's comments and the commitment to the effect that he and the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, will continue to look at and develop this area. To come at it from the children's perspective, the CSO analysis of children who come through foster care shows they have higher rates of absenteeism from school, leave school earlier and their educational achievement generally is lower. Everything we can do to support these children, who have had a really difficult start in life, is to be considered and welcomed. I come at it from the point of view of the foster carers. I know things like the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance may be an option for consideration. I would welcome all of the supports we can consider to try to make the provision of support for those children a little easier. I accept the Minister's comments in relation to pensions, the integrity of the pension system and how important it is to manage that, but I hope the Government and the Minsters will consider this matter in the round, seek to make progress and see if there are ways it can be developed for foster carers in the future to keep the family-based service going well.

We made changes last year in relation to the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. Where we can, we will continue to do that. From the perspective of the children fortunate enough to receive foster care, it is a changer for them. Many have gone through multiples of carers and generations so it is an area I am looking at. I am also looking at the area of kinship. Along with Deputy McGreehan, I met the Kinship Care Ireland last year. We want to see how we can do more to support that but I would not like to give false expectation either. There are many complex issues around pensions and eligibility we are trying to work through. We have to work through them with the overall sustainability of our pension system in mind. We will work with the Deputy and the Minister, Deputy Foley. Tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an obair seo le haghaidh na tuismitheoirí seo. Caithfimid seasamh leo.