Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

The acid test of the bona fides of the Government on carers and caring is the immediate abolition of the carer’s allowance. This has been the demand of Family Carers Ireland for years and was promised by all political parties in the run-up to the last general election. It was understood that the means test would be abolished within the first 100 days of this Government coming into office but we are still waiting. Worse still, the programme for Government is silent on it, so we do not know when or if it will ever happen. The Minister should announce its abolition immediately.

Family carers play a very vital role as front-line healthcare workers in supporting older people, people with disabilities and those with high care needs in their own homes. Half a million family carers provide 19 million hours of unpaid care each week, saving the State approximately €20 billion. The abolition of the carer's allowance means test is the least the Government should do in return. The cost is modest in the overall budget of the State. In 2024, the Parliamentary Budget Office estimated the full cost at €375.3 million, which is similar to the figure of €389 million that was estimated by Family Carers Ireland.

The provision of respite is another vital support that is needed both for carers and those cared for, almost three quarters of whom have never received respite care. This leads to ill-health and burnout, particularly for carers.

All statutory and voluntary organisations supporting people to live in their homes for as long as possible have called for a statutory, rights-based home support scheme. Currently, there are 5,556 people on waiting lists for home care and home help. There is a huge divide between Dublin and the rest of the country. There is little or no waiting list in Dublin. For example, there is no waiting list at all in north Dublin and central Dublin, whereas the south Tipperary area has the second highest waiting list and the north Tipperary area the third highest. This postcode or geographic discrimination must stop. Many individuals in south Tipperary who have been approved for home care are either not getting any entitlement or not getting their full entitlement. Again, this needs to be addressed urgently.

Home and Community Care Ireland, in its prebudget submission for 2025, called for the restoration of the 1.9 million hours cut previously and an additional 2 million hours to meet unmet needs, and a support structure for home care workers. I strongly support this.

See this speech in context