Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)

I thank the Minister. It is more than a year since the carer's referendum was overwhelmingly rejected. Almost 74% of those who voted said "No". The big issue that came up was the abolition of the means test on foot of the figure the Minister referred to of more than 99,000. Of course, many other carers get absolutely nothing. There are some suggestions that the figure in this regard is as high as 500,000. Considering this as an income support is the completely wrong way to look at it. We should look at it in terms of the fact that society cannot function without carers. We need to put an economic value, as well as a psychological and carer's value, on that work because we cannot talk about a thriving economy if we do not have carers.

I am a little disappointed that a year on from the referendum, the Minister has indicated that he will work towards the abolition of the means test during the lifetime of the Government. That could be almost five years from now. He is failing utterly to recognise the value of the work done by carers.

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