27. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement he has had on providing a State pension for foster carers; and the timeframe on this. [66968/26]

43. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the Government commitment to examine the pension arrangements for foster carers; and whether additional proposals to support foster carers to access the State pension system are currently planned. [67628/26]

102. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will consider further reforms to the pension treatment of foster care work, including bringing foster care work directly within the State Pension system. [67646/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 43 and 102 together.

Matters relating to foster care are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

Officials from my Department continue to engage with their counterparts in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on the issue of pension provision for foster carers.

This Government acknowledges the important role that carers, including foster carers, play and remains fully committed to supporting them.  Once the minimum requirement of 10 years' paid contributions is met, 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.  Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring 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 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 10-years' 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 the system remains sustainable.

Any future changes to State Pension system would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context, including the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.