Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
738. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the Government’s current policy on the means test for carer’s allowance, including any specific timeline or milestones for its abolition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9340/26]
View answer739. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department plans to publish an interdepartmental or policy review on the future of the carer’s allowance means test; the timeframe for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9341/26]
View answer740. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify in which Budget or fiscal year the means test will be abolished or substantially reformed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9342/26]
View answer741. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government plans to consult with stakeholders such as an organisation (details supplied) and advocacy group on the means test reform; and if so, the planned schedule for those consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9343/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 738, 739, 740 and 741 together.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the department provides income support to carers. Expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2026 is estimated to exceed €1.4 billion.
The Government has set out its current policy position on the Carer's Allowance payment. The Programme for Government has set out a 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 this Government.
This process is underway. Last July the amount of weekly earnings disregarded was increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. As part of Budget 2026, I announced further changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test that will be introduced this July. The weekly income disregard will increase by 60% from €625 to €1,000 for a single person, and from €1,250 to €2,000 for carers who are part of couple. This is a significant milestone in terms of reaching our commitment.
Since June 2022, there have been cumulative increases to the disregards of over 200%.
The latest reforms to the means test announced in Budget 2026 are the largest ever increases in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard and will result in more carers qualifying for Carer’s Allowance, even those in households that are regarded as having relatively high incomes. For example, a carer in a two-adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain their full Carer’s Allowance payment and even with an income of €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
Removing the means test is a major reform of the Carer's Allowance payment, and of the Irish social welfare system generally. It is important to acknowledge that there are wider implications of departing from a means-tested approach above the cost exposure and for this reason the income disregard is being abolished in a measured way over a number of Budgets.
My door is always open and I welcome engagement with carer organisations. I have met with the main carers' representative organisations, including the one referenced by the Deputy, I found our discussions to be very informative and useful. The organisation in question has very clearly set out its position regarding the abolition of the Carer's Allowance means test. The recent improvements outlined are evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver on its commitment to phase out the Carer's Allowance means test over the lifetime of the Government.
My department hosts the Annual Carer's Forum, the purpose of which is to provide carers with a voice at policy level. I attended this event last year and heard first hand the views of the groups and carers themselves regarding the means test for Carer's Allowance. My officials are currently in the process of organising the 2026 Forum. I look forward to attending it again this year. Both Family Carers Ireland and Care Alliance Ireland have taken an active role in assisting my officials with the success of this event and I am sure they will do so again this year.
My department's Pre-Budget Forum will provide another opportunity for me to meet with groups from the community and voluntary sector, including carers’ organisations and advocacy groups.
I can assure the Deputy that I remain committed to engagement and dialogue with carers’ organisations and advocacy groups on the issues that matter to them and I will continue to engage with them as I have outlined.
As part of Budget 2024, my department established an Interdepartmental Working Group with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to examine and review the entire system of means test for carers payments. The Group was chaired by the Department of Social Protection. This Group has concluded its work, and submitted its report to me, in line with its terms of reference. The report is under consideration in the context of the Programme for Government commitment and the ongoing budgetary considerations.
Finally, we will continue to progress the Carer's Allowance Programme for Government commitment in light of the prevailing budgetary conditions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
