Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

Carers are saving the State billions of euro. The highest figure we have seen for the amount involved is €3 billion. In any event, the savings being made are enormous. People provide care for children with complex needs, older people and family members with serious illnesses. They do so out of love and with very little support from the State.

While the increases to income disregards are welcome, they are not a substitute for fully abolishing the means tests. Carers, as the Minister stated, are the backbone of our society, providing essential care the State would otherwise struggle massively to offer. The financial and emotional toll on individuals is immense and abolishing the means test would go some way to helping those families. Will the Minister provide a detailed plan for how the carer's allowance means test will be abolished? If he would give me a timeline for how it will be implemented over the course of Government's term of office, it would be appreciated.

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