Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that we will continue the work of recent Governments in terms of supporting the work of carers, which we feel is very important.

We have already discussed this morning the increases in the income disregard, the weekly increase to carer's allowance and carer's benefit and the increase in the carer's support grant. Since January, the carer's allowance is now included as a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance, which is opening up that payment. The income disregard has increased from €20,000 to €50,000 since June 2022. As and from July of this year, we will ensure that carer's benefit payment is extended to the self-employed for the first time. In that context, the earnings limit will increase from €450 to €625.

I will revert to the Deputy with regard to carers over 66 years of age and the work we are doing in that space. It is very important that the work we will do at the committee on social protection be aligned with the work of the committee on health in order to ensure that there is agreement between the two on the importance of carers and that there is co-ordination in respect of the proposals around that. I will engage with both committees to ensure that carers are as supported as possible in order to keep people in their homes, where possible, and that carers are recognised for that very important work.

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