Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Minister's work. As she has pointed out, she was one of the first Ministers to make changes in this area for many years. As she knows, however, this is a matter that is close to my heart. I have been working with Family Carers Ireland. It has refuted the statistics she has given, in particular relating to the cost. It has estimated that the total cost of abolishing the carer's allowance means test would be approximately €389.4 million. That is much lower than what the Minister has estimated. She has pointed to those whom this measure would still leave without access to the payment or who would be punished in some ways with the expansion but a number of carers are not able to get any support other than the carer's support grant. Last year, the number was 319 for County Clare and it was 5,500 nationally. I was wondering what the number would be for this year, if the Minister has that to hand. Those are the families that are still being left without.

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