Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on the change to means-testing, the increase in the payments and what was known as respite care and the €500 payment issues last week. Those measures are very beneficial. Families we deal with are extremely grateful for the funding they have received. This issue comes up constantly at the Joint Committee on Disability Matters.

The 2001 Act introduced carer's benefit for two years. We can only guess why the average is what it is, but everyone has a fair idea of why that is the case. When a partner gives up a full-time position, having paid PRSI from the start of his or her working life, there is a case to be made to examine and perhaps the expand the scheme. I ask the Minister to review the position and determine the cost and how many families would benefit from a change.

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