Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for outlining the position. Farm assist replaces the former small farmer's dole. In the past, a limited number of people claimed the small farmer's dole who were at the same time, quite reasonably, caring for an elderly relative or minding children at home. Following the 2012 improvement, however, these people now find themselves excluded from claiming the carer's credit for pensionable purposes. Is there a way to modify this to allow such persons to claim the carer's credit? It is reasonable that a person farming on a small scale would also care for an elderly relative. Someone might have been milking the cows in the morning, taking the children to school, doing a few jobs and coming back again in the evening. Such persons should be able to claim the carer's credit while they had the equivalent social welfare payment. If they had been on jobseeker's allowance, that would be credited.

See this speech in context