Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will give consideration to a document produced by a national organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40055/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The key role of the Department of Social Protection is to provide income supports where there is an income need. My Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2025 is expected to exceed €1.9 billion.

To identify and assess priorities within the sector, my Department engages regularly with carer representative organisations. I am familiar with the pre-budget submission referenced by the Deputy and note its importance. The submission includes proposals in relation to schemes which are under my remit as well as issues which are under the remit of some of my Ministerial colleagues such as in relation to health, home support, and respite services, as well as housing and transport.

The Programme for Government commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government. This is a major change to the Carer's Allowance and to the Irish social welfare system generally. It is important that we make progress in a way that is sustainable and which does not unduly limit our scope to support other vulnerable groups in society. We have also committed to progressively increasing the rates of payment.

The Annual Carers’ Forum, held on 28 May, which I attended, provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from carers and their representative groups, including the organisation in question on key issues and proposals.

As part of the annual budgetary process, as well as giving consideration to the submissions received, my Department hosts an annual Pre-Budget Forum, which representative bodies attend. This event provides a further opportunity to engage with stakeholders across the community and voluntary sector, including carer organisations, to gather insights and perspectives that will inform budgetary deliberations.

I can assure the Deputy of my strong commitment to meaningful engagement and dialogue with carers on the issues that matter to them. Any commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure are subject to the overall budgetary context and will be considered in that context over the coming weeks.