Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

I also thank the Social Democrats for bringing this motion forward. I do not doubt the Minister's bona fides on this matter. He is a good man. I am well aware that it is more than likely there are people coming into his constituency office and applying for carer's allowance. I do not doubt that. At the same time, people - women are predominantly the carers in this country - are feeling significant pressure. They are finding it extremely difficult to care for loved ones in their households when the application for the carer's allowance involves a means test.

Every week my secretary and I find ourselves filling out application forms. As my colleague Deputy Sheehan has said, it is an extremely intrusive application form. People have to go into in-depth detail on the level of care they provide and it is extremely difficult to write down on a piece of paper. We often find that people get extremely emotional when they submit an application form. It is difficult for public representatives when people come into their constituency offices in extremely emotional states.

I welcome the fact that the income thresholds are increasing. However, the Minister needs to fulfil his duty to abolish the means test for carer's allowance over the lifetime of this Government. We need a timeframe on that. Carers across this country, who are predominantly women, need the security of understanding that their household means will not stop them from having their own income for providing care for a loved one. It would be completely wrong in any sense or form if this were to happen. I ask the Minister and his Department to give us a timeline on what is going to happen in relation to the abolition of the means test for carer's allowance.

Will it be this year, next year or the last year of this Thirty-Fourth Dáil? We are unaware.

I have significant issues in relation to children with special educational needs. Parents across the country who are caring for children with additional needs provide a deep understanding of what children with such needs are facing. They should not be put up against the barrier of a means test for caring for their children 24-7.

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