Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a useful proposal. One in 20 people in Ireland today is a carer. It is estimated that number will rise to one in five by 2030. We have to get ready for that. There are several problems with the carer's allowance as operated. There is lack of flexibility around the number of hours a person can work. I appreciate that if somebody is to be a carer they cannot work full-time outside the home but there should be some flexibility in the eligibility conditions. In addition, Family Carers Ireland and other worthy associations have made several recommendations that would substantially improve the carer's allowance at fairly minimal cost to the Exchequer and make it much more efficient.

Deputy Brady tabled this amendment on Committee Stage and wanted a report within three months but we took the view that six months might be a more realistic timescale. He has changed it to six months and in view of that I support the amendment.

See this speech in context