Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Dáil Éireann calls on the Government to set out a clear road map for the abolition of the Carer's Allowance means test by 2027.

The Regional Group is tabling this motion because, given that the budget is next Tuesday, it is time that the Government take action on this issue. The motion calls for a roadmap towards abolishing the carer’s allowance means test by 2027, recognising the essential role that family carers play and supporting those who dedicate themselves to caring for their loved ones. More than 500,000 people, or one in eight of the population, are family carers, forming the backbone of care provision across the country. Despite this indispensable contribution, many carers face inadequate support and recognition, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.

Through this motion, we seek to acknowledge the immense value of carers by advocating for a shift to a non-means-tested carer's allowance based solely on care need.

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Carers are often left financially vulnerable under the current means-test system, which can tie their income to their partners' earnings. This mostly affects women and leaves them struggling to make ends meet. While many full-time carers are in receipt of the carer's support grant, which acknowledges the important role they play in society, others still have not availed of it. Regardless of this, that grant does not in any way meet the financial demands placed on caring families.

The Regional Group of TDs highlight the findings of the 2022 report, The State of Caring, by Family Carers Ireland, which revealed that many carers face significant challenges in accessing essential services for their care recipients and feel undervalued by society. The Regional Group is seeking cross-party support for our motion ahead of budget 2025. This stresses the need to address the financial hardship and social isolation many family carers experience. The proposal to abolish means testing for carer's allowance and to establish a non-means-tested participation income aligns with calls from Family Carers Ireland, which has long advocated for reforms to better support carers. Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy at Family Carers Ireland, has emphasised the urgent need for change, stating:

For many years Family Carers Ireland have lobbied for the abolition of the means test for Carers Allowance as we believe the current scheme is inadequate, outdated, gender-biased, overly restrictive, and no longer fit for purpose. Despite improvements in recent years [which we acknowledge], the Carer’s Allowance means test remains one of the most contentious issues amongst family carers. Thousands of full-time family carers caring for people medically in need of full-time care, do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance or receive a reduced rate due to their relatively modest household income. It undervalues care work – Carer’s Allowance is the only social welfare payment where recipients are expected to provide full-time work (min 35 hrs) and in return receive just €18 more than the basic social welfare rate. It is inadequate – even before the cost-of-living crisis, households caring for a child with a profound disability face additional weekly costs of up to €244 [per week, as set out in the Indecon report on the cost of living with a disability]. The abolition of the means test and replacement with a participation income based on the valuable work and contribution family carers make in our society would be a watershed moment for thousands of family carers who feel invisible, undervalued and unsupported.

We call upon the Government to implement the unanimous recommendation of the Oireachtas joint committee on social welfare to set a roadmap for a non-means-tested participation income for family carers by 2027.

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