Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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303. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he plans on abolishing the means-test for the carer’s allowance in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50024/25]

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.

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. Given the likely costs of abolishing the means test - at least €600m but potentially far higher - it cannot be done in a single budget but it will be delivered over the lifetime of the Government.

Recent progress was made in July when the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance increased from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585.00 respectively, or 88%, since June 2022.

The increases in July mean that a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €69,000 can retain their full Carers payment and even with an income of €97,000 they can retain a partial payment.

It is important to note that my department provides non-means-tested supports to carers including Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000.

We will continue to advance the Programme for Government commitment over the lifetime of the Government having regard to the prevailing policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.