The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2024 is expected to amount to almost €1.7 billion on these payments.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which my department provides income support to carers in the community. Some 95,848 people are supported by this payment.
The conditions attached to payment of Carer’s Allowance are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. The means test ensures that support is provided to those most in need and plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of caring.
Since my appointment as Minister, I have made a number of improvements in the social welfare system to enhance the supports available for our carers.
• In June 2022 the income disregards were increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
• As part of Budget 2024, the weekly income disregard will be further increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner.
This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €117.50 for a single carer and €235.00 for a carer who is part of couple, during my time as Minister for Social Protection. These are the highest income disregards in the social welfare system. It is also worth noting that the capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was also increased last year from €20,000 to €50,000.
I am familiar with submission referred to by the Deputy calling for the introduction of a form of non-means tested payment or basic income for caring work.
Carer's Allowance does not purport to be a payment for care, and I do not intend to deviate from the underpinning principle of this scheme being an income support payment.
However, I am establishing an Interdepartmental Working Group with the Department of Health to examine and review the system of means test for carer payments.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
