Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I recently met a lady in my constituency of Meath West who was finally approved for a carer's allowance nine years after she first started to care for her beautiful daughter who has many additional and complex needs. A short time later, this lady's husband got a modest increase in what is a good income, shall we say. That income, though, does pay for many private supports and therapies they need to get. In this instance, carer's allowance was going to someone who saved the State so much money by caring for her daughter, day in, day out. It provided her with a tiny bit of financial independence from her husband. More importantly, it was a small recognition of the work she does so diligently.

To say she was devastated when the family received a review letter would be an understatement. She felt used, let down and targeted when it arrived. To receive such a letter a few short months after being approved for carer's allowance to begin with is deeply unfair. She is lucky in that the family will survive financially without the allowance, but some others will not. Will the Government take immediate action to remove the review process for those who are approved and in receipt today of carer's allowance?

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