Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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466. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to increase the weekly travel allowance allowed in the carer’s allowance means test from €15 to €50 to reflect the rate of fuel inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29195/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

A travel expenses disregard is included in the CA means test on an administrative basis at a rate of €15.00. However, where a carer submits evidence of increased travel expenses, an increase in the deduction is allowable. No travel disregard is applied if a cycle to work scheme is in payment or travel expenses are listed on a payslip.

The Government acted quickly and decisively to introduce measures aimed at offsetting the increased cost of living for social welfare recipients.

As part of the Budget 2024 package, there were significant improvements to the means test for CA in recognition of the vital role that carers play in society. In June 2024, the weekly income disregard increased to €450 for a single person, and to €900 for couples. In 2022, the capital disregard also increased from €20,000 to €50,000 for CA.

In Budget 2024, I also announced several other beneficial measures for carers as follows:

• €400 cost of living lump sum payment which was paid in November 2023.
• An increase of €12 in the maximum rate of the Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit.
• An increase of €10 to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment.
• €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child.
• Christmas Bonus double payment paid in December.
• January cost of living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment.
• Weekly rates of qualified child payments also increased by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over, and €46 for under 12s.