Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to provide better support to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8382/25]

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I formally congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his election.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Thank-you.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What are the Minister's plans to provide better support to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person?

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I take this opportunity to officially congratulate the Deputy on his election.

Spending on income supports for carers by the Department of Social Protection is expected to amount to over €1.9 billion this year. The carer’s allowance scheme is the main scheme by means of which my Department provides income support to carers in the community. In 2025, the expenditure on the carer’s allowance scheme is estimated to be over €1.2 billion, which will provide an allowance to more than 98,311 people.

The carer's allowance payment is intended to provide an income support to a person whose capacity to earn an income from employment is restricted. In other cases, the requirement for an income support may arise due to illness, disability or unemployment. In the case of carers, the requirement arises due to their need to forgo full-time employment to allow them to take up caring responsibilities.

Where a person is providing care to more than one person, the personal rate is increased by up to 50% of the standard rate. In addition, the annual carer's support grant, which is not means tested, is paid in respect of each person being cared for - that is €2000 or doubled, in other words, to €4000.

These two provisions are intended to recognise the particular challenges faced by people caring for more than one person. We are committed to further examining how we can better support carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person including a commitment in the programme for Government to increase the carer's support grant. I am very happy to engage with the Deputy on suggestions and proposals he may have in this space.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. In Fianna Fáil, we recognise the major contribution carers make to this society, many giving up careers and job opportunities and often providing full-time care to their loved ones. They take away a huge burden that would otherwise have to be met by the State by means of the use of third-party residences and institutional care for people who are disabled or had special or additional needs is something we moved away form many years ago.

Fianna Fáil has been the party of the carer's allowance. It introduced the carer's allowance and the half-rate carer's allowance, and it is important that we take a lead on this. Will the Minister comment on the programme for Government pledge regarding parents who are over 66 and receiving both the carer's allowance and a pension?

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that we will continue the work of recent Governments in terms of supporting the work of carers, which we feel is very important.

We have already discussed this morning the increases in the income disregard, the weekly increase to carer's allowance and carer's benefit and the increase in the carer's support grant. Since January, the carer's allowance is now included as a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance, which is opening up that payment. The income disregard has increased from €20,000 to €50,000 since June 2022. As and from July of this year, we will ensure that carer's benefit payment is extended to the self-employed for the first time. In that context, the earnings limit will increase from €450 to €625.

I will revert to the Deputy with regard to carers over 66 years of age and the work we are doing in that space. It is very important that the work we will do at the committee on social protection be aligned with the work of the committee on health in order to ensure that there is agreement between the two on the importance of carers and that there is co-ordination in respect of the proposals around that. I will engage with both committees to ensure that carers are as supported as possible in order to keep people in their homes, where possible, and that carers are recognised for that very important work.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's reply. I also welcome the increases in the income rates to allow people to qualify for the carer's allowance. I recognise and welcome the commitment of the Government to a phasing out of the means test for the carer's allowance.

I welcome the improved benefits under the carer's allowance scheme, the extension of the allowance to the self-employed and the provision of access to the State pension. It is absolutely important that we continue to support carers in their very onerous tasks. Many of them do it without any complaint because of their commitment to their loved ones. It is very important that the State continues to recognise their contribution to society in this regard.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not think anyone here would disagree with the Deputy's assessment. I will ask my Department to do a lot of work on the supports that are available to carers. They are often so engaged in giving the care that they do not have the chance to know of the full supports that exist, many of which are not mean tested, including the carer's support grant, carer's benefit, the domiciliary care allowance and the various other supports that are available. We will be asking the Department to do a great deal of work on that this year in order to provide information to carers on the channels and the full range of supports available and to ensure that they are using those supports, which are in recognition of the very important work they do.

As stated, prior to the budget later this year, I will be engaging with the carers groups at the annual carers forum. That forum provides family carers with a voice at policy level and gives officials from my Department the opportunity to engage directly with people experiencing care issues. The forum will allow us to plan our approach to the next budget, with carers at the heart of that approach.