Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1466. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection what the current plans are regarding the potential removal of means testing for carers, as committed to in the Programme for Government. [20649/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face. We are fully committed to supporting carers in that role.

The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.

There have been a number of significant improvements made to the income thresholds in the means test in recent years. From July this year, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner. This will make the scheme accessible to more people.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.