Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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82. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on making the carer's allowance exempt from means assessment; the measures that are in place to assist family carers to avail of education and employment opportunities during their caring years to help and support them to re-enter the workforce when their caring role ends. [33447/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Carers Allowance is a means-tested payment for people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. It is mainly aimed at carers on low incomes who live with and look after certain people who need full-time care and attention.

The means test for carers allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carers allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €59,300 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel and household benefits package.

Removing the means test would involve changing the nature of the Carer’s Allowance scheme from a targeted income maintenance support for those most in need to a universal care support, in effect a payment for the provision of care rather than an income support payment for people on low incomes. The only eligibility criteria remaining would be that the care recipient required full-time care and that the carer was providing that care on a full time basis. Therefore, it is considered best that the Carer’s Allowance means test should remain to ensure the most effective use of resources.

Carers can engage in employment, education or training for up to 15 hours per week and still qualify for Carers Allowance. When their caring role comes to an end, advice and support in reengaging with the labour market is available through the Department’s employment support officers at local Intreo Offices.