Senator Joanne Collins has said that the Irish pension system "fails to recognise" the contribution of women who "dedicate their lives" to raising families, caring for their loved ones or working on family farms.

Senator Collins said that many farm spouses and daughters work full time on the land but do not qualify for full contributory pensions because they are never formally employed.

"The result is that these women, who have worked every bit as hard as those in traditional employment, face financial insecurity in their later years.

"This is not just an economic issue. It is a matter of fairness, gender equality and valuing all work, paid or unpaid," the senator said.

The contributory state pension is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through contributions paid by workers and employers.

To qualify for this payment, a person must have 520 contributions, which is the equivalent of ten years of paid contributions.

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary said that the rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life.

The state pension contributory system gives significant recognition and support to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to care or to raise families, frequently in full-time caring roles.

This is done through PRSI credits and pension caring schemes, which depend on the method upon which a pension is calculated.

The homemaker scheme applies under the yearly average calculation method and home caring periods are used under the total contributions approach.

Both the homemaker scheme and home caring periods allow up to a maximum of 20 years spent caring for children under 12 or other dependent relatives to be included in the relative calculation.

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 1,040 weeks or more. These contributions can be used in the calculation of the individual's state pension contributory entitlement.

Senator Collins called for the home caring periods scheme to be expanded and for more education around pensions to women in agriculture.

Minister Calleary said he will work with the Department of Social Protection to get more information on pensions out there.

"I have taken the senator's position on information on board. We have an extensive presence at farming events, including the national ploughing championship, to provide that information on a one-to-one basis," Minister Calleary said.

He added that his office is also open for assistance on any specific queries.