John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Department is currently evaluating increasing the carer's allowance in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50595/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and remains fully committed to supporting carers in that role.

The Carer’s Allowance scheme is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers. In 2025 the expenditure on the Carer’s Allowance scheme is estimated to be over €1.24 billion. There are currently almost 102,000 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance, an increase of almost 14% in the last five years alone

There have been significant improvements made to the Carer’s Allowance means test in recent years. These changes have impacted positively with many more carers availing of the payment and potentially receiving a higher rate of payment. The latest improvement 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.

The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly further 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.

Other improvements to the Carer's Allowance means test have allowed carers to have a higher level of savings, up to €100,000 in savings in the case of a couple, and still qualify for a Carer's Allowance payment.

As a result of Budget 2025, from January 2025 there was a €12 increase in the personal weekly rate of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit. This was the fourth successive rise in weekly rates, which have risen by €41 over the past four years.

Is is important to note that recipients of Carer's Allowance are also eligible for the annual Carer's Support Grant in respect of each person for whom they are providing care. The grant was increased by €150 in Budget 2025, bringing it to €2,000 - its highest ever rate.

My colleagues and I in Government are committed to building on the extensive improvements we have made in order to make a difference in the lives of carers and those they care for. The Programme for Government contains a number of additional commitments to improve the supports available to family carers. These include commitments to continuing to increase the Carer’s Support Grant and to progressively increase weekly carer support payments. In addition, the Government has committed to examining how carers who are providing full-time care and attention to more than one person can be better supported.

These commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government and in light of available resources.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.