Joe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Deputy Dan Neville. The reason I want a minute to speak is that I have a special interest in the carer's allowance as a mechanism to keep people who are being cared for out of institutions and at home where they generally want to be. I welcome the restoration of the respite care grant, the increased Christmas bonus payments and the lowering of the universal social charge. I ask the Minister of State to continue a process of making the carer's allowance more attractive so that recipients automatically receive secondary benefits, such as the medical card, and would be supported in every conceivable way and, as the country can afford it, that the allowance is increased on an annual basis. It is a huge opportunity for people to be cared for in the home and for people to leave jobs in which they are not necessarily happy and to do something for their loved one. That is so important.

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