John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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578. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide a breakdown, by county, of the number of people who will receive an increase in their carer's allowance payment when the changes to the means test takes effect in July 2025; if he will outline the overall percentage of carer's allowance recipients who will now qualify for the maximum weekly payment on foot of the changes in July; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32791/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

There have been a number of significant improvements made to the means test for CA in recent years. As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for Carer’s with a spouse/partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585 respectively since June 2022.

The table below outlines the number of customers in each county who are due to receive an increase in their CA when the changes to the means disregard take effect in July.

From July, 99% of existing CA recipients will qualify for the full rate payment.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.