Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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797. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the Programme for Government commitment to “continue to significantly increase 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”; the work carried out to date to progress this commitment; his plans with respect to the upcoming Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49179/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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 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.

It is also important to note that we are in the process of easing the means test. The latest change occurred in July when the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance was increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This was as a result of a Budget 2025 measure. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585.00 respectively, or 88%, since June 2022. Such improvements mean that many more carers can avail of Carer’s Allowance or potentially receive a higher rate of payment.

The latest increases mean that a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €69,000 will still retain their full carers payment and even with an income of €97,000 will retain a partial payment.

Any further changes to the Carer's Allowance means test will be considered within the context of the upcoming Budget.