Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this motion regarding the abolition of the carer's allowance means test. I fully support this motion, particularly its calls on the Government to put in place a pay-related carer's benefit scheme and to abolish the means test for the carer's allowance.

This Government, in its most recent budget and its four previous budgets, has failed, time and again, to recognise and acknowledge the invaluable work that carers do. Not only do they provide vital care for thousands of people across the country but from a financial point of view alone, carers' work saves the State approximately €20 billion per annum. Carers should be thanked and compensated for their works and their contributions to society rather than penalised.

The current means test and the limit on hours that carers are allowed to work are ridiculous. Why are we punishing people who are saving the State time and money? Why are we ignoring the fact that many carers are parents or family members of the person they care for? Why are we further condemning them to poverty? Carers already experience many burdens, financially and socially, in health and in quality of life. The means test prevents many people who are providing care from being compensated for their hard work.

In Donegal, there are almost 10,700 unpaid carers, which is 6% of the population of the county. There are 139 carers under 15 years of age providing regular unpaid care in the county and 60% of all carers in Donegal are female, in line with the national figure. This shows that females are disproportionately affected by this Government's decision to keep the means test. Shamefully, the period between 2016 and 2022 saw some significant increases in the hours of unpaid care provided. The number of carers in Donegal providing 43 or more hours of unpaid help each week almost doubled, from 1,688 in 2016 to 3,324 in 2022. It is clear that this Government has made things worse for carers. They have done nothing to invest in support for our carers or to recognise their immense contribution to our society. Years of Government inaction and Governments that have prioritised profit, foreign investment and large corporations over our people have had a negative effect on every faction in our society, including our carers, teachers, childcare workers, disabled people, farmers and fishermen. The people will let it be known at the doors and at the polls that this country deserves better. It deserves a Government that is ready to make the system work for everyone, not just a select few.

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