Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact the programme for Government commitment to allow parents aged over 66 receiving the State pension, who are caring for a child with a lifelong disability, to retain a full-rate carer's allowance discriminates against other carers, such as those caring for a spouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21714/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish social welfare system operates on a principle of "one person, one payment". People typically receive the highest payment they qualify for. However, the Half-rate Carer’s Allowance payment is one of a limited number of exceptions to this. This allows individuals receiving certain payments, such as the State Pension, who are providing full-time care and attention to retain their main payment and receive an additional payment, the maximum of which is equivalent to half the Carer’s Allowance rate.

It is important to note that where a Half-rate Carer's Allowance is in payment a person is already receiving more in terms of a weekly income support from my Department than a person just in receipt of their primary weekly payment. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure that parents who are aged 66 or older and caring for children with lifelong disabilities retain the rate at which they are paid their Carer’s Allowance and concurrently receive the State Pension.I would like to assure the Deputy that any changes to the carer income supports on foot of such commitments will only be introduced after consultation with carers and their representative groups and within the overall budgetary and policy context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.