Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I referred to the respite investment plan. There are two different issues involved. Let us take them sequentially. In regard to the means test, when I go around the country, there are too many people who find it a bit mean. We want to make the means test more generous and understanding in order that more carers can benefit.

That is why this week - Deputy Cairns can shake her head all she wants; she asks questions and sometimes does not like when I answer them - we are making changes to the income disregard so that more people will benefit from carer's allowance. I am sure the Deputy welcomes that. That is happening this week. No one needs to wait for any report or plan for that. Regarding respite investment, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will quite rightly detail to this House and, much more importantly, to people relying on respite services, how the €15 million extra we have allocated will make a real difference and how we will get from the 87,000 nights we were providing to more than 151,000 and beyond. We will do more. Every year this Government has been in office, we have done more for the carer's allowance, the carer's benefit, means test and respite. I agree with the Deputy and I am willing to work on a non-combative way to see how we can do more. I look forward to meeting Family Carers Ireland this month.

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