Social Protection Committee to discuss the report: "Towards a Participation Income for Family Carers" with representatives from Family Carers Ireland and Maynooth University

peaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Denis Naughten said: “We welcome the opportunity to discuss this research report ‘Towards a Participation Income for Family Care’ which was commissioned by Family Carers Ireland and researched by a team of researchers in the Department of Sociology Maynooth University.”

“The report has recommended that we move away from a means tested approach to the Carers Allowance and instead focus on the need for and the provision of full time care”.

“The study believes that the Department of Social Protection is in the best position to administer such a scheme which would be known as a Carers Participation Income on behalf of the Government Departments with responsibility for older people and people with a disability”.

“The study envisages the introduction of a this non means tested Participation Income for Family Carers by 2027, with the establishment of an implementation group reporting to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion in the short term to examine existing and future processes of administrating care payments and methods of proving eligibility of medical care need and the provision of full time care.”

“We look forward to discussing the report and its recommendations in full with representatives.”

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