Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have just come from the Family Carers Ireland briefing across the road. In their own words, this is a group that is relied upon but not listened to. I listened to the testimony of Lynsey O'Donovan from Swords who is the carer of her son Jack. They do not want praise or platitudes, they want action. Their prebudget submission has been launched and I am sure the Tánaiste and his Government colleagues will see it. The Labour Party wants to ask about a key area of this, which is carer's allowance. Carer's allowance is outdated. It undervalues care work. It is inadequate in terms of the cost-of-living crisis. It forces carers to be financially dependent on their partners should they have one and it discourages employment. In this time of plenty, will the Government commit not only to an increase in carer's allowance and carer's benefit but a fundamental reform of the payment and how it is structured and administered?

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