Care providers give an invaluable service to the State and have done so under great financial, physical and emotional pressure. While I welcome the advances to which Senator Cox referred, we will never achieve the full potential of that scheme until we abolish the means test for the carer's allowance. Such a measure would have financial implications, but the country can afford to tell these people that the service they are providing is invaluable. The people they are looking after would otherwise have to be cared for by the State. Carers not only contribute to the care of individuals, they also free up the resources of the State. That is a positive dimension of this matter. The abolition of the means test for the carer's allowance should be implemented.