Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

As of 18 March, there were approximately 50,000 people in receipt of carer's allowance, over 21,000 of whom work on the half-rate carer's allowance. The cost of the various payments and income supports that are made to carers comes to approximately €658 million.

The Deputy is right to identify the economic crisis caused by the banks and some very wealthy people in this country, and by the actions of the previous Government. It is our proposal in this Government to get people back to work. We value the work and the contribution of the carers very highly. As we regenerate the economy and get people back to work, we will then be in a position to improve the situation for carers, who do very valuable work in Irish society.

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