Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The means test for the carer's allowance is a significant barrier for many carers who need financial support. Currently, there are 299,128 carers in Ireland but only 96,826 receive the carer's allowance. This means a large number of carers are missing out on essential financial support. Abolishing this test will ensure that all carers receive the assistance they deserve regardless of their financial situation. This change would not only provide much-needed financial relief but also recognise the invaluable service carers provide to society. The carer's allowance means test needs to be abolished immediately. That is the call from all of us. I praise the Regional Group for tabling this motion today. Without carers, how many more people would be looking for beds in nursing homes, community hospitals or hospitals in general? We all know that carers save the State a fortune. It is not possible to get home help in west Cork at present. I am begging home help providers to roll out home help but they do not have the people to do so. It is not possible to get a bed in a community hospital or nursing home at present in west Cork. There is a dire crisis that can be resolved with care for the person in their own home by providing a proper carer's allowance for everybody, which is not means tested, immediately.

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