John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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582. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of self-employed people who have availed of carer's benefit since it was extended to the self-employed; if he can provide a breakdown by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37523/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's Benefit was extended to the self-employed from January 1st this year.

People who are self-employed in 2025 are not required to file their tax returns until the end of October 2026. My Department usually does not receive this PRSI data until early in the following year, which in this case would be early 2027. As such, my Department cannot at this time provide an accurate breakdown of the number of Carer's Benefit recipients who are currently self-employed.