Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2025
416. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider awarding a half carer’s allowance payment to persons who are caring for family members in an almost full-time capacity to provide the care required for a person in between care hours approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50237/25]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the key role that family carers play in Irish society and remains committed to supporting them.
Carer's Allowance is the main income support scheme for family carers. Its primary aim is to support those whose earning ability is reduced due to full-time caring responsibilities. It is not and was never intended to be a payment for the provision of care. Like other means-tested welfare payments it recognises that without an income support the person concerned could not provide for themselves.
To qualify for Carer’s Allowance the carer must provide full-time care and attention and satisfy a means test. Full-time care and attention is set out in legislation as providing care for at least 35 hours per week, over a minimum of five days per week. In addition carers must not engage in employment, self-employment, training, or education for more than 18.5 hours per week.
The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance payment is available to individuals who provide full-time care and attention, as set out above, and are also receiving another qualifying social welfare payment, for example the State Pension.
Carer’s Allowance can be payable in situations where caring duties are shared with another person or with an institution, on a week on/week off basis. In such circumstances, each carer shares the Carer’s Allowance payment and the annual Carer’s Support Grant, provided the other qualifying conditions for both schemes are met.
While acknowledging that there are many people who provide significant amounts of care to family members, the key components of qualifying for a social welfare payment as set out above still apply.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
