Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)

I too thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion. According to Family Carers Ireland's State of Caring report, which was published last year, 69% of carers report that they find it difficult to make ends meet. Some 29% of those struggling financially are cutting back on essentials such as food and heat, the cost of which has gone through the roof in recent years. Some 23% missed a mortgage or rent payment in the previous year. Some 71% of carers provide care for over 120 hours a week.

The means test for carer's allowance is outdated. It is also deeply gendered because the majority of carers are women. My mother is a carer to my 89-year-old grandfather. She has had to step out of the workforce and does not qualify for carer's allowance under the income disregards that are there for her and my father.

Family carers save the Government approximately €20 billion each year and yet they are penalised if their family income is too high. The means test actively discourages a family from trying to increase its income. If a person works hard and wants to provide more for their family, if they earn too much they will lose some or all of their carer's allowance. This really disincentivises people from going out to work. In a country with full employment and skills shortages left, right and centre, we need to actively encourage and support people to enter and stay in the workforce. We should not be penalising them by reducing their benefits.

Carers make an enormous contribution to this country. At best, they are invisible; at worst, they are actively ignored. Applying for carer's allowance, as all of us as Deputies know from dealing with our constituents, is a very intrusive experience. People have to explain in incredible detail the level of care they provide. Frankly, it is ridiculous. A constituent said to me recently that carers are forced to jump through endless hoops to justify the work they do. To refuse them carer's allowance, or to offer them a reduced payment due to their income, is an insult.

I welcome the fact that the Minister is looking at increasing the income disregard, which has been increased previously. I really welcome the commitment in the programme for Government to get rid of it, but we need to see a timeline for this. My concern is that this commitment is one of those things that could get pushed and pushed and will eventually fall off the agenda.

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