Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 May 2025
117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has plans to alter, abolish or change the means test on the carer's allowance; and if so, the date upon which these changes will come into effect. [20967/25]
View answer120. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the specific timeline for the removal of the means test for carer’s allowance as committed to in the Programme for Government; if he intends to significantly increase the income disregard in Budget 2026, as an important first step. [20776/25]
View answer142. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Social Protection when the means test for the carers allowance will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20783/25]
View answer143. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in removing the means test for carer’s allowance; if a timeline will be outlined for the removal of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 120, 142 and 143 together.
The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. The Programme for Government has set out a specific timeline which 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.There have been a number of significant changes made to the means test in recent years. From July, there will be a further increase which will see the weekly income disregard rise from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585 respectively since June 2022.
Any further changes as part of Budget 2026 to any of the schemes under my remit will have to be considered as part of the overall Budgetary and policy context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
