Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)

Family carers deserve an income support that recognises their care. The current system does not do that because if you are living with someone or are married to somebody, no matter how much care you provide and whether it is 24-7 or whatever it may be, it does not matter. The care does not matter because your partner, your husband and the person you are living with has an income. I always recall a constituent who came to my office many years ago. She was in receipt of the blind pension. Her partner got a promotion at work, which was something to celebrate. She lost her blind pension. She was still blind but it did not matter because her partner got a promotion at work and their household income increased.

It is so inherently flawed in a system where your need means nothing at all. It depends on the income and the household income.

I remember when I was my party's spokesperson on social protection and in 2022, the then Minister, former Deputy Humphreys, announced after 14 years an increase to the income disregard. It was announced at the time, "Minister Humphreys introduces first changes to the means test for carers in 14 years", as if it was something to be proud of. What it actually meant was that from 2008 to 2022, there was no increase in the income disregard and that was not something to be celebrated. That is how far behind this Government is now with regard to abolishing the means test. All of those years were lost to family carers. It also reminded me of the national carers' strategy, published in 2012. It was to be cost-neutral. Family carers stood back as they were told there were limited resources. They have waited but they are not getting what they deserve. There has been a lot of talk on this issue. The budget is an opportunity to do something for family carers and give them what they deserve, which is to abolish the means test.

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