Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am increasing the domiciliary care allowance to €360 per month and, most importantly, I am expanding the carer's allowance means test to €625 per week for a single person and €1,250 per week for a couple. These changes will mean that I have effectively doubled the income limits for carer's allowance over the lifetime of this Government, enabling thousands more carers to qualify for a payment. I hear our carers and recognise them. It is by working with them that I have been able to ensure that our carers have access to a pension for the first time ever, and rightly so. I am pleased to say that since I made this change last year, almost 2,200 carers have benefited from that with regard to the State pension. That is the result of listening to our carers and working with them.

I understand the concern around the means test. The carer's allowance means test is an issue which carers have raised consistently over the years and it is being raised here again today. I was the first Minister in 14 years to make changes to the carer's allowance means test, in 2022. As I outlined, I have increased it.

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