John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 12, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:“Review of carer’s allowance payment

13.The Minister shall conduct a review and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the financial hardship faced by carers who must provide full-time care in order to receive carer’s allowance restricting them from taking up other work to supplement their income, examining their access to pension entitlements as well as the barriers to the labour market they face after a period of caring and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection within 6 months of the enactment of this Bill.”.

We had a good discussion on this amendment on Committee Stage. There are serious issues facing carers. The rule that they have to provide care for at least 35 hours a week restricts them from getting a job because they are limited to 15 hours work a week. This is also the case for education. We see more young carers now caring for family members and others. That will have a long-term impact on them because they can study for only 15 hours a week. We know of the huge saving carers make for this State because they get only €16 above the jobseeker's payment. They save the State millions of euro. Everyone acknowledges that, and the Minister does as well.

I am asking for a review of the carer's allowance, its impact on them and the long-term impact in terms of pension entitlements because if a carer is caring for 20 years or more they will not benefit from the total contributions approach, TCA. I had proposed that a review be carried out and brought back within three months. I have reworded the amendment to have that review and report within six months. There was broad agreement that if that change was made we could proceed with this amendment.

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