Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To respond to Deputy Martin Browne, the budget provides for a €500 payment for carers, not means-tested, which they will receive before Christmas, and a €12 increase in the carer's allowance and the carer's benefit from the new year. There is additional funding for respite too. I fully appreciate how important it is that carers be able to get a break from caring. That is important in order that they can continue to do the work they do. The funding will be there. Recruitment of staff is a challenge, as the Deputy knows. That is certainly not a problem unique to us but we will do our best in that regard. One thing that is significant is that the Minister for Social Protection will bring through legislation next year to recognise the contributions that carers have made during years of caring towards eligibility for a State pension, not means-tested, which is a big step forward.

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