Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Referendum or no referendum, I think we need to do more to demonstrate that we value carers and are on their side. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is bringing through legislation that will give pensioners a full State contributory pension, recognising their years of caring as equivalent to PRSI contributions. I think this is very important. There are several sets of payments being made to carers. There is the means-tested carer's allowance, the means test for which has been relaxed. It will be from June. There is also the carer support grant that is not means tested at all. The Minister is currently reviewing those payments in advance of the next budget. The areas we are really trying to invest more in are therapies and treatments for people with disabilities and their assessments. We are also trying to get more respite centres open because carers need a break and time off so they can keep doing what they do. Our real challenge there has been recruitment and finding skilled staff to take those positions.

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