Dr. Nikki Dunne:

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with the committee this morning. I am the research manager with Family Carers Ireland, the national charity dedicated to supporting Ireland’s 500,000 family carers. I am joined by my colleague, Ms Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy at FCI, and Ms Emily Thyne, who cares for her son, Malachy. We wish to acknowledge and welcome the work of the committee, particularly in its efforts to better recognise and improve supports for family carers. FCI has repeatedly called for an overhaul of the carer's allowance scheme, which was first introduced 33 years ago. We believe it is now an outdated model that undervalues care work and is completely inadequate, particularly with the cost-of-living crisis. We, therefore, warmly welcome the recommendations of the committee to increase the carer’s allowance income disregards and work towards the full abolition of the means test and the possible introduction of a participation income for family carers.

In early 2024, Ireland will hold a referendum on equality and care, as recommended by a citizens’ assembly and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Equality. If successful, the new Article 41.2 will enshrine the value of care work in the Constitution and oblige the State to take reasonable measures to support carers. Additionally, both the citizens’ assembly and Joint Committee on Gender Equality made recommendations on the reform of carer’s allowance, with the latter specifically recommending that consideration be given to the potential introduction of a participation income that acknowledges the contribution carers give to society. With these recommendations of both the citizens’ assembly and the joint committee, and a referendum on care just months away, we believe now is the time for fundamental change in how we recognise and compensate family carers. We believe it is time to begin to transition from the outdated means-tested carer’s allowance scheme and work towards a more equitable and gender-balanced scheme for carers, one that reflects the reality of contemporary caring relationships and families today and that values and fairly compensates the immense contribution made by carers as well as the State’s reliance on them.

This ambitious change requires the Department to approach its categorisation and assessment of carers in a new and progressive way. We believe that the ambition, motivation and political will exist to achieve this. We are delighted to have been partners on this research project with Professor Mary Murphy, Dr. Pauline Cullen and Mr. Shane Gough from Maynooth University. We are grateful to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, for funding the research, which demonstrates how the introduction of a participation income for family carers is a feasible alternative to the outdated means-tested carer’s allowance. Professor Murphy will present the findings and recommendations from the research, but first, Emily will speak about her experience of accessing carer’s allowance. I thank the committee for the invitation today. My colleagues and I are happy to answer any questions members may have.