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173. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the carers allowance at year end for each of the past ten years; and the current total number in receipt of the allowance. [32430/25]

109. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on a carer’s allowance appeal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32916/25]

556. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the carers allowance application for a person (details supplied). [32158/25]

399. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case for awarding carer’s allowance to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31412/25]

185. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance appeal (details supplied). [30884/25]

872. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE departmental staff by grade that are currently dealing with carer's allowance applications. [28913/25]

886. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carer's allowance payment for a person (details supplied) is to cease following the means review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29217/25]

888. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on plans to abolish the carer’s allowance means test; and when this change is expected to be implemented. [29245/25]

904. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance that are caring for someone under 18 years of age. [29453/25]

906. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a carer’s allowance application given the fact that the care recipient (details supplied) is suffering from cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29566/25]

410. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the Carer’s Allowance by €12 and abolishing the means test, assuming that abolishing the means test would lead to an increase of an additional 25,605 eligible recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28440/25]

412. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first year and full-year cost of increasing the carer’s allowance by €1. [28442/25]

428. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of a €50 payment to all recipients of the carer’s allowance. [28458/25]

431. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for the first and full year cost of doubling a single payment of the foster carer allowance payment. [28461/25]

441. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on a carer’s allowance appeal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28556/25]

287. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline if a reform of the half-rate carer's payment for people receiving a disability payment will be included as part of the Government's plans to phase out means testing the carers allowance; if this has been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27762/25]

291. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will supply the number of carers allowance applications received in each years 2020 to 2024; the number of such applications that were approved on first examination; the number directed to review and changed on review; the number directed to appeal and changed on appeal; the average waiting time in each of those years for…

431. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason carer’s allowance is automatically halved if a person receives the old-age pension; when this policy was enacted; the person that signed off on it; and the reason it was deemed necessary. [27496/25]

593. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance that are caring for someone under 18 years of age. [26802/25]

279. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer’s allowance will issue for a person in County Mayo (details supplied). [26477/25]

93. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carers allowance review in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26344/25]

592. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied) to review a decision on carer's allowance. [25259/25]

594. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the median and mean time to process carer's allowance reviews and appeals in Kerry, in each of the years 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25315/25]

599. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the further supports that are available to individuals in receipt of the State pension and a half rate carer's allowance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25418/25]

613. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review process for a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) who has had their claim suspended since 6 February 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25575/25]

That is an important aim and one we will try to achieve. This review is not happening in isolation. Means tests and income thresholds are kept under regular review. We made a number of significant changes in recent years. Significant changes have been made to the income thresholds for the working family payment and income disregards for disability allowance, the blind pension, the fuel allowance a…

The Government is making thousands of carers who are on reduced payments wait until July to get their allowance increases. Let them have them now. It is the same when it comes to the occupied territories Bill. It has been a long-term commitment from Fianna Fáil. It was in the previous programme for Government. The legislation was done.

There continues to be anomalies. I am due to receive a report into means testing generally across all of our Department's schemes in the coming weeks and we will be considering that. We obviously have to have means tests in many cases. We have made a commitment in relation to carers, but the kind of situation the Deputy has just described, where the caring spouse of somebody who works hard has to …

The Taoiseach can disagree with my assessment all he likes but I was quoting the Parliamentary Budget Office, which is independent. Is the Taoiseach saying he does not accept its independent analysis of the budget? The proposal that we have put forward is fully costed - €362 million. It is targeted and affordable, as the Taoiseach says measures need to be. That would leave plenty of room for furth…

It is nearly a month into this crisis and the Government is finally acting but the measures announced today do not go far enough. A temporary cut to excise duty to provide some relief at the pumps is long overdue but where are the targeted supports for those who need them most? The Government, having spent weeks and weeks reviewing the situation, has come into this House and done the bare minimum…

I welcome the opportunity to mark International Women's Day. The aim and theme this year of Give to Gain was really strong. The point was collaboration and collective action to drive opportunities for women and girls. When women drive, everyone thrives. As an active trade unionist for all of my working life, I see the link between the struggle for women’s rights and workers' rights. When we improv…

-----to bringing that to finality, including the issue of an apology. Turning to Deputy O'Sullivan, again in terms of disability and inclusion, we have since this report and the general election, established a disability unit in the Department, which manifested itself in the budget in terms of the domiciliary care allowance, the monthly allowance, going up another €20, and in terms of the income …

I welcome all of these changes but I will go back to the issue. These children are under 16 years of age and have severe disabilities. Their parents and carers are put to the pin of their collar both financially and emotionally. Allowing them a free travel pass would not only ease the financial burden, but ease the transition. As I was saying previously, this is particularly the case in urban area…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete line 21 and substitute the following: “(a) the person provides a home support service to fewer than 2 persons, (ab) the person has been granted an exemption by the chief inspector from the requirements or conditions imposed by or under this Act,”. On Committee Stage we discussed the piece in relation to the number of clients. The current Bill exempt…

Tá áthas orm an deis a fháil labhairt ar an mbuiséad seo anocht. I welcome the opportunity to speak on some of the measures outlined earlier today. However, it is also important to highlight what did not happen today. For me, this is the budget of a Government that lost its nerve, a budget of half-measures and lip service. Yes, the income disregard for the carer’s payment will increase to €1,000 f…

I extend a word of welcome to the Monaghan Women's Assembly and other guests, ach ba mhaith liom fáilte mór a chur roimh Cara Darmody, who is about to complete her 50-hour sleep-out to again raise the scandal of children waiting for assessment of need. Tá fáilte romhat, Cara. Since yesterday, the depth of public anger at the Government's decision to withdraw funding supports for blister pack medi…

I want to raise qualification for carer's leave for teachers. Section 6(1) of the Carer's Leave Act 2001 makes provision for carer's leave for teachers and provides that they must be in continuous employment for 12 months before they are entitled to that leave. That makes perfect sense because it avoids a situation where a brand-new employee takes leave having just entered into a position, which w…

We are all deeply concerned about this escalating conflict and the scale of the damage we are witnessing. Now is the time to focus on de-escalation, and this can only be done through dialogue and diplomacy. Only yesterday, we learned that 23 sites of both gas and oil have been destroyed in Iran. These are sophisticated structures and will take time to be rebuilt. This will prolong the fuel crisis …

As Deputy Neville knows, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to look at the long-term pension provision for foster carers. The Department is engaging with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, which has line responsibility and operational management for foster caring, and with Tusla. We will engage with other stakeholders as necessary in terms of looking at the com…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Wall, who has been advocating this for some time, as did his dad before him as well, and I acknowledge the work of Family Carers Ireland. This is a unique and neat motion. This is a group that cannot stand up for themselves. I was a bit disappointed in the Minister of State's response and in the Minister's response because we have discussed carers in here quite a bit.…

This morning, we hear of another scandal involving the care of vulnerable children in this State. Forged references were provided for staff at special emergency accommodation for children, putting vulnerable children in harm's way. These settings, as the Taoiseach knows, are unregulated, poorly resourced and unregistered facilities not inspected by the authorities, yet more than 1,000 children wer…

I thank all the carers of Ireland for all the great work that they do in performing essential work for our communities. They allow people to live at home in dignity, they help ensure better outcomes for those that they care for, they contribute considerably to people's health and well-being and they reduce the pressures on an already-stretched health service and care homes. In doing that, they mak…

The Deputy’s cacophony of assistance here is great. What was implied is obviously not reflective of how a programme for Government works. To the people at home, I say we have a programme for Government that commits to what we are going to do over five years. It is a published document, available on gov.ie. We have only delivered budget one of five. The Deputy will be pleased to know there will be …

The Deputy and I are not in disagreement on this. I have always been very clear that the work and service provided by foster carers is second to none. I have also been very clear that it is the optimal option for children who need security and support. In that respect, my Department is doing all it can to ensure that measures are in. I have already referenced the increases in the allowances and mi…

Many people living with rare diseases fall between multiple systems - health, disability and social protection. Approximately one in 17 people will live with a rare disease during their lifetime and, in many cases, these conditions are lifelong, disabling and involve frequent hospitalisations with one parent or carer leaving their employment entirely, yet many of these individuals struggle to qual…

The line Minister's statement on Friday night when she spoke about the three-month pause was tone deaf. It did not address any of the concerns of patients and their families and the issues that they raised about this ill-thought-out and cruel decision. The reason for the postponement is very clear. It is not because Sinn Féin warned the Government in October about the difficulties that this would …

I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 25 March 2026, by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2 to that Act (as amended by section 52 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (No. 39 of 2023)): SCHEDULE 2 RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX (2) IT is hereby declared that it is e…

I would like to take the opportunity to speak on this issue which affects thousands of families across this country, many in my own constituency. Dementia is not just a health issue. It is a family issue, a community issue, and a societal issue. Behind every diagnosis is a person whose life has changed and has a spouse, son, daughter, neighbour or friend who is adapting to new responsibilities and…

The public is sick to the teeth of this. The Minister stands there and defends €127,000 being spent on a designer bike shed at the same time as the Government is imposing a recruitment embargo. Does the Minister not know how tone-deaf that is and what the family whose mother is lying on a hospital trolley in a corner of one of those hospitals feel when they hear that, or when the carer who is sitt…

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I know she understands the importance of these services for Noah and everybody else who accesses them for fulfilment, engagement, development and independence. She has articulated here and in the responses I have got before that a unique set of circumstances exist in Meath. It is a frustration for us in Meath that they were there. It is different now fo…