Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am proud that we are putting forward a motion to abolish the means test for family carers, many of whom take on the role of care, which they did not ask or look for, out of love. In many cases, it is for a child. In other cases, it is maybe for a parent. I was reminded of what was perhaps the first time that we heard from family carers at a committee meeting, when I sat on the committee on social protection. We had three family carers who came before us in May 2022. I was reminded of them. One of them was 65. He and his wife were caring for their twins who could not eat, drink, talk or walk.

They are non-mobile, use wheelchairs and are PEG fed. They function at the level of a nine-month-old baby but are in their late 20s. He said another thing, which is so common for all our family carers, "We love them to bits." He had to retire early from his job but told us even though he loved his job, he loved his girls more. He and his wife could not access the carer's allowance and, as he also said, his wife had to give up work. She had to give up a career that she loved and forfeit a salary and future pension entitlements. They could not access the carer's allowance. They also said, and this is an important point for our older carers in particular, "Our futures are bleak enough as it is, getting older and frailer and still minding our adult children when we are getting to a stage when we ourselves are beginning to need help." It is important that we remember that perspective of older people, as they get older and are still looking after their children. Two other family carers spoke on that day. One has a child with a life-limiting condition. That carer was awarded a carer's allowance of €12 a week but was then told it would need to be reviewed and if it were paid incorrectly, it would have to be paid back.

Many family carers are caring for loved ones because they love them. It is a tough job. In some cases, it is 24-7. They are not receiving any income support from the State. That is wrong. There is now an opportunity to signal to family carers in this State that if they care for their loved one, the State will financially support them. They deserve nothing less.

See this speech in context