Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is time for us to recognise the profound impact the carer’s means test has on the lives of carers and those for whom they care, and to advocate for its abolition. The means test undermines the principle of fairness and social justice that should underpin our welfare system. This test assesses not just the needs of the person being cared for but also the income and assets of carers themselves. Under this system, even a modest income can disqualify carers from receiving the carer's allowance, making it harder for them to maintain financial independence. The intention behind this test was to ensure fairness but, in reality, it places an unfair burden on carers, forcing them to choose between providing essential care and earning a living wage. It has inadvertently become a barrier to the very support it aims to provide. It creates a cruel paradox whereby carers are penalised for trying to earn a living even when their caregiving duties prevent them from working full-time.

Caring for a loved one is not merely a responsibility, it is an act of compassion and love that often comes at great personal sacrifice. Carers perform tasks, often around the clock, without the luxury of regular working hours or financial compensation to match their efforts. The means test ignores the emotional, physical and financial toll that caregiving imposes on individuals. By restricting access to financial supports, the test devalues the significant contribution carers make to society. Without carers, many people would rely more heavily on State-funded care facilities, which would increase the cost to the State.

Many carers struggle to make ends meet, yet the means test cuts them off from crucial supports if their income is deemed too high in the context of arbitrary thresholds. It is a system that overlooks the fact that caring for someone is not just emotionally taxing, but can also be financially draining. Carers frequently face additional expenses, including medical equipment, home adaptations and transport to medical appointments, which put immense strain on household finances.

I also highlight that the carer’s allowance provides more than just financial assistance. It acts as a gateway to other essential services, such as free travel, household benefits and respite care. By restricting eligibility through the means test, many carers are also denied access to these critical services, making it even harder for them to manage their caregiving responsibilities.

Carers often experience high levels of stress, burnout and isolation due to the demands of caregiving and the financial strain imposed by the means test exacerbates these issues. This disproportionately affects women, who make up the majority of carers, and those from low-income backgrounds who are already vulnerable. This test creates a disincentive to engage in employment or pursue professional development, trapping carers in precarity.

The Minister is aware of the number of people who are in nursing homes because they have nobody to care for them. He is aware of the number of bed-blockers in hospitals for the same reason. Caring is a vocation. I ask the Minister and the Government to abolish the means test.

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