Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this motion, which builds on many motions, including my own Private Members’ motion on the need to eliminate the means test for the carer’s allowance.

This motion is timely because we are coming up to budget 2025. As I have often said, the means test is commonly known as the “mean test”. From speaking and listening to carers over the past 20 years and from reading all the reports from Family Carers Ireland and others, I can see why that is so. For a long time, Family Carers Ireland has believed that the carer’s allowance is inadequate, gender biased, overly restrictive and not fit for purpose. It is inadequate because every single report on the cost of caring tells us that families face extra costs and extra bills of between €10,000 and €14,000 per annum. The Government’s own report tells us that as well. The carer’s allowance barely covers that amount. Research shows that 29% of carers are cutting back on essentials like food and heating, 39% live in households with a total income of €30,000 or less and 83% of those on carer’s allowance do not receive the fuel allowance. One can see why the allowance is inadequate.

It is gender biased because many of those caring are women. The income disregard is not based on the woman’s income, but on the household income. In many cases, if her husband or partner is above the threshold, the woman receives no carer’s allowance. This is restrictive. In order to qualify, one has to care full time for a person who needs full-time care. Less than a quarter of those who provide such care actually get the carer’s allowance.

One of the issues I have encountered is that a carer in receipt of the allowance can only study for 18.5 hours. Recently, I came across two carers who were trying to do online courses of between 20 to 25 hours. They are at home all the time and available 24-7, yet they are not able to access the carer’s allowance. One can see why changes need to be made. For example, we need to move towards a participation income that is not means tested and the family carer’s income support should be for all family carers who fulfil the assessment criteria. Family Carers Ireland is asking for these changes to be implemented by 2027. If one were to describe what a participation income might be, it could be paid at the rate of the current carer’s allowance without being means tested. It would be awarded because the person was caring.

As Deputy Connolly stated, there are many figures for what carers save the State. The figure of €20 billion is one that we often hear. If it is anywhere close the truth, then it is the equivalent of another HSE. Based on such figures, carers in my constituency of Sligo probably save the State approximately €250 million per year. In Leitrim, the savings are approximately half of that. In Donegal, it is twice that at €500 million. In comparison, the cost of abolishing the means test would be €397 million per year for the entire country. This proposal needs to be considered.

According to a report published less than a week ago by Family Carers Ireland, 72% of carers have never received respite. That is not good enough. In fact, it is not even close to being good enough. We have to do better. Family Carers Ireland is calling for family carers to have a right to a minimum of 20 days of respite per year.

It is not a big ask but it will make all the difference for those who are caring 24-7. I would appreciate it if the Minister would take what is in this motion to heart and make sure the next budget starts the implementation of getting rid of the means test for the carer’s allowance.

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