Ms Clare Duffy:

Based on what Mr. Dunne said, it is important to remember that we are moving towards penalising rather than recognising family carers. If we are going to deny someone home care on the basis that someone is receiving carer's allowance, it is important that we remember that only a quarter of all carers receive carer's allowance in the first instance because it is means tested. Those who are lucky enough to receive carer's allowance receive €16 more than the basic social welfare rate. By rationing, withdrawing or denying home support to such persons, we are telling them that they would be better off on jobseeker's allowance instead of carer's allowance. Complicating this is the fact that carer's allowance for carers over 70 is assessed in the means test for the medical card. It is not assessed if the person is under 60. There is a litany of ways in which we are penalising and punishing family carers rather than recognising and rewarding them. The pension is another example but I will leave that one.