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

The Government recognises the important role family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to supporting them through a range of payments and services. For this reason, the annual carer's support grant, which is paid in respect of each care recipient, is not means-tested and is not taxable. The grant is currently paid at a rate of €1,850 per year, which is the highest rate at which it has been paid since it was first introduced in 1999.

As part of budget 2023, I announced a range of measures directly benefiting family carers, particularly in light of the current cost-of-living crisis.

In addition, in response to carer organisations and the voices of family carers, significant changes were made to the carer's allowance means test in recent years, notably as part of budget 2022. The capital and savings disregard for the carer's allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with that which applies for disability allowance. The weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse or partner. As a result, following these changes, carer's allowance disregards are the highest income disregards in the entire social welfare system, with the result that a two-person household, such as that referenced in the Deputy's question, can now earn about €39,000 per annum without their carer's payment being affected.

While I understand the Deputy's concern, I also have to have regard to the needs of other welfare recipients and how best we can allocate our resources given competing demands. I have, therefore, committed to a carrying out broad review of means testing this year which will include, but not be limited to, carer's allowance means test provisions.

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