Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to publish the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group which reviewed the system of means test for carer's payments; the timeline for the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50760/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As part of Budget 2024, an Interdepartmental Working Group was established with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to examine and review the entire system of means test for carers payments. The Group was chaired by the Department of Social Protection.

The Interdepartmental Working Group has concluded its work, and the report from the group has been submitted to me for my consideration, in line with the terms of reference.

I am currently reviewing the report in the context of the Programme for Government commitment 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. This commitment will be advanced having regard to the prevailing policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.