Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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287. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline if a reform of the half-rate carer's payment for people receiving a disability payment will be included as part of the Government's plans to phase out means testing the carers allowance; if this has been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27762/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Under the single payment per person rule, people who qualify for multiple payments from my Department typically receive only the higher of the available options. However, as an exception to this rule, the half-rate Carer’s Allowance was introduced for people already receiving a social welfare payment. This arrangement allows people receiving certain welfare payments to retain their primary payment, such as Disability Allowance, and receive up to a half-rate Carer’s Allowance, depending on their means. Next week, like other carers, people in this position will also receive the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000 – its highest ever level.

The Programme for Government commits to significantly increase 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. Changes in this regard also benefit recipients of the Half Rate Carer's Allowance who have means. There are no plans for other changes specifically in relation to payment of Disability Allowance in addition to Half-Rate Carer's Allowance.

However, in terms of income supports for carers, the Programme for Government also commits to:

• Progressively increasing weekly Carer’s Payments.
• Continuing to increase the annual Carer’s Support Grant.
• Ensuring Parents who are aged 66+ 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.
• Examining how we can better support carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person, and
• Examining the introduction of a Pay Related Carer’s Benefit for people who have to give up work.