Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)

This Government constantly tells us that it values the work of carers. It has a chance to prove that in the budget next week. So far, carers have never been prioritised by this Government or previous governments. The Taoiseach does not have to take my word for that. A report from Family Carers Ireland last year was damning. It found that an overwhelming majority of carers - 70% - find it difficult to make ends meet. That is the reality of life for carers in Ireland. Many are forced to cut back on essentials just to make ends meet.

That kind of treatment of carers is shameful. People have to work 24-7 because essential services are either non-existent or threadbare. Carers have been left to fill the gaps in a broken system and fight endless battles for every small scrap of State support. The means test for carers is a perfect example of this. In no other line of work are people assessed on their partner's income, household savings or anything else. Anyone starting work as a garda, nurse or teacher is simply paid for their work but carers are treated very differently. Despite being the backbone of the care system in this country and saving the State more than €20 billion a year, carers are asked to jump through endless hoops to secure a small allowance.

This approach is not just bureaucratic and exhausting; it is insulting. It reveals that the State really treats carers like their work is somehow optional and that it views supporting them like some kind of charity, instead of treating care like the essential work it is.

Every year at budget time, I say the same thing: show me your budget, and I will show you your priorities. The truth is that if the State really valued carers or the work they do, they would be supported. They would not be forced to beg, fight and plead for crumbs from the budgetary table.

The Parliamentary Budget Office has costed the removal of the means test for carer's allowance at €375 million a year. The Government could more than pay for that by tripling the bank levy, which would raise €400 million. Removing the means test for carer's allowance is affordable and achievable. It will be in the Social Democrats' alternative budget. Tomorrow the Dáil will debate a Social Democrats' motion on removing the means test for carers. Will the Government support it? Will the Government finally abolish the means test for carers?

See this speech in context