Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before I begin, my thoughts and those of my colleagues are with the children in Parnell Square who have been impacted by what has been reported as a serious incident in the centre of Dublin city. All our thoughts and prayers are with them.

I wish to speak to the Minister about a review of the carer's allowance. It is an issue that crops up an awful lot. These are people who are in receipt of carer's allowance and at some point they receive a letter for a review. That is understandable but the content and tone of these letters can be quite impactful on carers themselves. They have already met every criterion to get the payment. They understand that they have to send in updated financials in terms of their circumstances. However, my concern is about the letters and the asks in relation to the illness or the condition with which the caree is suffering. It can be quite obvious that there are people who have a lifelong condition and they are never going to improve. That is why they are being cared for and that is why their carer is in receipt of carer's allowance.

It would require a change of rules and language, and perhaps some change in culture in terms of how the reviews are conducted for carer's allowance on the medical end of things and how the letters are worded. The best thing would be that it is understood within the Department that the person who is in receipt of care is not going to improve or get any healthier, in effect, that they have a long-term condition. When carers have to fill in forms they are retraumatised by having to set out the level of illness that their loved one has. That could be avoided, as it causes undue stress and concern to the carers, who as we know provide the most important job in the State at a fraction of the cost to the State, saving the health service so much work and doing it out of love and compassion for those they care for. I ask the Minister to take that on board.

I urge the Minister to ensure the Department takes a more open approach as well to the financial information. We need a less pedantic approach. Carers live lives like the rest of us and sometimes it can feel like they are being audited by Revenue as opposed to just having a check from the Department of Social Protection. I hope that can be fed into the system and that it can be improved. It is a small thing but it would make a huge difference.

See this speech in context