Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)

I welcome this motion brought forward by the Social Democrats. It follows motions put before this House before. The Labour Party has raised this numerous times, particularly for young carers who are really discriminated against. If I may reach back into the annals, there was a Deputy, Willie Penrose, who raised this matter here for at least a decade if not longer. He argued that in real terms this was self-financing because of the fact that people were kept out of acute healthcare settings.

I believe the Minister is committed to getting rid of this. The differential relates to the timelines for doing it. While the Minister will, in fairness, increase income disregards and all of that, he needs to commit to this House how long it will be before he fully gets rid of it. He has hinted at it previously. Will he be brave enough to do it in this budget? It sounds like he will not. Will he brave enough to do it in the following year's budget, or predict if he will be able to do it? He might outline to us what he intends to do.

We all know - it has been said often in this House - the role that carers play and how critical it is. I am the same. I see it every day all around me, where I live, everywhere. Across the country we have so many people who provide care. What we are not saying is that we are trading on their love for their family members. We are trading on it. Regardless of whether they are getting paid or getting an income for what they do - "pay" is not the right phrase - they are going to do it one way or another because they love the people they are caring for. We are really taking them for granted. There are young people who sacrifice years of their lives, careers, education, social lives and relationships because we, as a State, are taking them for granted. It is not just a case of providing a form of income for the work they do and giving them dignity. It is also about giving them options in life. We are taking away more than just an acknowledgement that they deserve an income.

For many families, anytime there is a change of circumstance within the household - a promotion, an additional payment, someone turning 18 or returning from college and starting work - there is huge concern and anxiety. A whole range of other things can happen across a household and the means assessment starts all over again. This worry and concern is something that we really have to be cognisant of.

The bottom line is that Willie Penrose was right when he said that the amount of money we save as a State because people do not end up in healthcare settings, particularly acute settings, is ginormous. It is huge and unquantifiable. That is the quid pro quo for getting rid of the means test on carers. The people who perform this duty - it is a duty - are saving the State so much. Getting rid of the means test on carers is a quid pro quo for that work. To show that we support them, it is our duty as legislators to ensure this happens and I encourage the Minister to do so.

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