Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We welcome social welfare increases for the people who benefited but one group for whom we are all disappointed is carers. They do such Trojan work minding an elderly or disabled parent or sibling, for example. They do great work but because their husband or wife works, they do not qualify for the carer's allowance. We are disappointed about that for so many people. We all supported the motion to abolish the means test. The Government did not oppose it and everyone assumed there would be a change to it in the budget. Instead, the cap has been raised. The income threshold will be raised for whoever applies. That will happen some time next July, not long before next year's budget. It is totally unfair and not acceptable. I ask the Government to look at this matter again. With the amount of money these people save the State and the number of people they mind, it is terrible they are not recognised and that they suffer financially for doing the great work they do. It is not fair.

On the fuel allowance, if a person in a house is on a benefit payment, he or she is disqualified from getting the fuel allowance. I raised this with the Minister last year and the year before. These people have contributed and paid stamps and I cannot understand why those people who worked and made contributions are disallowed from applying for the fuel allowance.

The primary care certificate is vital for people to be able to move and to get around and to have someone to drive them. I have a constituent who is blind and he will not qualify for the primary care certificate and that is not fair.

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