Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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272. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide a roadmap over the next number of Budgets in which carers in receipt of the carer’s allowance can expect the income disregards for the payment to increase; the date by which the means-test will then be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21990/25]

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 is fully committed to supporting carers in that role.

The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2025 is expected to amount to over €1.9 billion on these payments.

The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently 99,256 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. Expenditure in 2025 is estimated to be over €1.24 billion.

The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to people whose earning capacity is substantially reduced because of their caring responsibilities. It is not and was never intended to be a payment for caring. The purpose of means testing is to target resources and support to those most in need.

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

There have been significant improvements made to the income thresholds in the means test in recent years. The next change to the disregard will take place in July. The disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.

It is also important to note that here are other supports for carers provided by the Department of Social Protection which are not based on a means assessment. These include the Carer’s Support Grant, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.