Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to be clear. I am outlining what we have done in the Department, but I never said that is enough. In response to Deputy Cairns, we want to do more. I am certainly not sitting here, saying we are doing a great job; I am telling her what we have done. We increased it from €20,000 to €50,000. I think that is progress and I want to see more progress.

In response to the Chairman's question on carer’s benefit, we are paying almost €1 billion to carers as matters stands. It is a substantial scheme. All of the benefits schemes are time-limited and carer’s benefit is for two years, although jobseeker’s benefit is much shorter and maternity benefit is 26 weeks. This has been extended over time. I take the Chairman's point that somebody who is on carer’s benefit might continue to care for longer than two years and would have to be means tested. We have increased that. It will kick in in June so it should make a difference to people. That means people can have €750 of income coming into the house and can have savings of €50,000 from the beginning of June, and they can still qualify for the carer’s allowance. I take Deputy Cairns' point. I know what she is saying, but even when we change it, there are still going to be winners and losers.