Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a very challenging situation. Unfortunately, in matters like this nothing is clear-cut. The Government recognises the crucial role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support through a range of supports and services. This commitment is recognised in both the programme for Government and the national carers strategy.

Carer's allowance is a means-tested payment primarily aimed at carers on low incomes who look after certain people who are in need of full-time care and attention. At the end of July 2022, there were a total of 91,093 recipients of carer's allowance caring for 102,330 people. The projected expenditure on the scheme in 2022 is approximately €990 million.

The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need, with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency, be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and scarce resources are targeted to those who need them most.

The specific means-test conditionality for the carer's allowance scheme is consistent with the overall rules applying to the range of social assistance payments. It should, however, be noted that the income disregards available for carer's allowance are the most generous in the social welfare system and have been recently increased as part of budget 2022.

For social assistance schemes, the total household income is assessed as part of the means test. In the circumstances where a couple has separated but continue to live in the same home, the Department provides that a social welfare inspector may investigate the case and report on the living and financial circumstances of the couple. This report will assist the deciding officer in finalising the decision on the means criteria and whether they should be assessed separately or as a couple. All decisions may be appealed. I am not sure if this has taken place in the case the Deputy has raised.

The carer's support grant is automatically paid to people in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and domiciliary care allowance in June of each year. Other carers not in receipt of a carer's payment may also be eligible for the grant. The objective of the carer's support grant is to support carers in their caring role and carers may use the grant in a manner that is appropriate to their needs. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers. As part of the 2021 budget measures, the rate of the grant was increased by €150. The new rate of €1,850 came into effect from June 2021. This is the highest rate of the grant since its introduction.

On Thursday, 2 June, the grant was paid to 121,000 carers and their families. The overall cost of the grant in 2022 is expected to be over €262 million. I know these statistics are of no use to the mother the Deputy mentioned. I can raise this matter with the Minister on the Deputy's behalf. It was important that he raised it this evening on behalf of his constituent.

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