Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Family carers are the backbone of care provision and an essential pillar in our healthcare system. It is increasingly clear the classification of carer's allowance as a social assistance payment does not recognise the uniqueness of family carers within our social welfare system. Many family carers I have spoken to feel strongly the means test for the allowance needs to be overhauled. As the assessment of needs for carers is applied to gross rather than net income and does not consider mortgage repayments, dependent children, college fees, nursing home support scheme contributions and medical costs, it does not reflect the reality faced by many caring families. Families may appear relatively financially comfortable based on their gross income but struggle to make ends meet when living expenses and costs of care are deducted. The expectation a carer provides full-time care at least 35 hours per week for just €16 more than the basic social welfare rates is untenable. Government needs to demonstrate it recognises the value of carers. I ask the Taoiseach to prioritise reforming the means testing of carers.

See this speech in context