Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

We know that approximately €8 billion in tax reliefs are available to the better off. Why can commitments be given to those people? It is easy for the Minister to say she values carers but if that is the case she will not hit them financially. I am asking her to give a commitment not to reduce the half-rate carers allowance, which has a ceiling of just over €100 per week. Does she accept this money is needed in households, not in recognition of the huge time commitments given by carers but to cover additional demands in respect of heating, lighting, dietary requirements and, in many cases, cleaning? The allowance is used to subsidise the additional costs involved in caring. Given the significant concerns held by thousands of carers throughout the country that their incomes will be cut, I ask her to put their minds at rest by giving a commitment that she will not hit them.

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