Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies O'Sullivan and O'Connor for the question. The programme for Government contains the commitment to abolish the means test for carers over the life of the Government. Budget 2026 increases the earnings disregard for carer's allowance by €375 to €1,000 per week for a single person and by €750 to €2,000 per week for a couple from July 2026. These are the largest ever increases in the carer's income disregards. They are evidence of my commitment and determination to deliver on the programme for Government commitment. Since 2022 the disregards will have increased cumulatively by €667.50 per week for a single person and €1,335 per week for a couple.

The budget 2026 measure will benefit those current recipients who are on a means-reduced rate and who will see an increase in their payment rate, and those people making new claim applications subject to a means reduced rate in 2026. On foot of the increases in the carer's allowance income disregards, a single person who provides full-time care but also does part-time work will next year be able to earn just over €54,000 and receive a full carer's payment. Similarly in a couple household, a person who is providing full-time care and where their partner might earn approximately €108,000 per annum will receive a full carer's payment.

There are wider implications of departing from a means-tested approach and for this reason the income disregard is being abolished in a measured way over a number of budgets in line with the programme for Government commitment. Given that the scheme is demand led, and given also that it is likely that many people who are above the means threshold will have not previously applied for carer's allowance owing to this, it is difficult to estimate potential inflow from these measures. However, as with other schemes, the number of payments to be made under the scheme is not budget capped and the Department will closely monitor the inflow into the scheme to assess any change in trends. Data on take up will be published in all of our quarterly statistical releases.

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