Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I have heard what he has said about targeting. Whether the Government gets rid of the means test or increases further the income disregards, we will see the outcome when the modelling is done. The Government needs to take one of those measures because that is what the Citizens' Assembly has asked it to do. The Citizens' Assembly also made another important point. Gross income is taken into consideration. This means family carers, male or female, are relying on their partner's income to support them and to support care in the home. The assembly also asked for social welfare payments to be individualised. That is an important point. Men and women who are carers find themselves at a significant disadvantage because of the way this legislation is put in place.

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act will come into being in June this year. That means family members will have a formal role to play. It is an extra commitment and an extra administrative burden on all family carers. The Government also needs to take that into consideration.

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