Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this matter. The main income supports to carers provided by my Department include the carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance and carer's support grant. Spending on these in 2022 is expected to be in excess of €1.5 billion.

The carer's benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person may be eligible for the carer's benefit if he or she has sufficient PRSI contributions. The carer's benefit is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. It can be taken in one block or in separate periods as long as the combined total does not exceed 104 weeks. This payment is complemented by the Carer's Leave Act 2001, which allows employees to leave their employment temporarily to provide full-time care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person is entitled to take carer's leave of at least 13 weeks up to a maximum of 104 weeks. It should be noted that not all those claiming the carer's benefit opt to remain in payment for the full 104 weeks. The average duration regarding the benefit was 76.1 weeks between 2018 and 2021.

Where care is provided beyond the period of entitlement to carer's benefit, the means-tested carer's allowance is available for those in need of income support. These arrangements ensure the efficient use of public funds while assisting those who need to take time out for caring and are in need of an income support.

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