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63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason pensions and social welfare payments cannot be paid together or at the same time, with the exception of carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29506/26]

67. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who transferred from carer’s benefit to carer’s allowance for each of the last four years; if his Department has any plans to make this transition easier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31337/26]

94. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is his intention to further increase income disregards for the carer’s allowance in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31107/26]

351. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the plans to introduce the higher qualifying income limits for carer’s allowance from July 2026; and when and the way in which applications should be submitted. [31538/26]

171. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure on carers allowance payments for each of the years 2016 - 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31186/26]

145. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in reinstating a carer's allowance payment for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal that ceased in February 2026; if it can be reinstated immediately considering requested information and documentary evidence was submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28787/26…

146. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any data is available on the number of recipients of carer’s allowance in Dublin west, broken down per LEA, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28804/26]

430. Deputy John Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether a single person who is in receipt of a State pension (contributory) or State pension (non-contributory) and half rate carer's allowance only, are required to make an income tax return and pay any tax due by way of lump sum or whether in such cases it can be deducted at source; and if he will make a statement on the matte…

1705. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his view on whether carers allowances should be disregarded as assessable income for HAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24917/26]

1841. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of reviews of carer’s allowance carried out in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23855/26]

1848. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide the number of people who are in receipt of carer’s allowance and also in receipt of fuel allowance to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24017/26]

1856. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in relation to the carer’s support grant; the eligibility criteria for the grant in cases where a person is not eligible for carer’s benefit or carer’s allowance; whether such a person may still qualify for the grant; and if so, whether the application should be made in the n…

1899. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of carer’s allowance can be assessed for the back to work enterprise allowance prior to ceasing their payment. [25463/26]

1910. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to carers allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25786/26]

1923. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will abolish the requirement of a means test for Irish citizens in order that they may qualify for a carers allowance, to ensure the continuance of this vital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26368/26]

329. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which an income of a second adult in a home where a person is in receipt of carer’s allowance is assessed even when they have no relationship with or provide financial support to the person being cared for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23252/26]

343. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a carer's allowance application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23469/26]

189. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of carer's allowance who are over the age of 66 years and providing full-time care for a son or daughter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22935/26]

469. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether it is acceptable that where a child with additional needs cannot access an appropriate special school or ASD class placement, a parent may be forced to give up employment in order to care for and educate the child at home; the supports available in such circumstances, particularly where the parent may the…

1142. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18375/26]

1143. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of carer’s allowance reviews carried out in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18376/26]

1160. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of applications for carer's allowance that were refused in 2025, in tabular form. [18685/26]

1197. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review correspondence (details supplied) regarding a carers allowance application; if he will provide an update on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19801/26]

1641. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the date when the fosters carers allowance was last raised; and the considerations that are underway for an improvement to this rate. [20804/26]

195. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if carer’s allowance is an income or an allowance; if clarified as an income, the reason it is not subject to minimum wage legislation; or if clarified as an allowance the reason it is subject to tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17272/26]

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward the motion and thank Family Carers Ireland and the young carers who have campaigned on it. Like Deputy Stanley, I welcome that the Government is not opposing the motion but I warn Family Carers Ireland and young carers watching this that there is a big gap between not opposing a motion and actually implementing what is in a motion that is passed. If t…

This is not just words and ambition. There was a 60% increase in the budget for the carer’s allowance income disregard. That has never been seen before. That means that households with an income of €110,000, and up to €138,000, become eligible for a social protection payment. That is actually happening. It will happen from 1 July next year. That is real and I want to continue with those kinds of l…

I remember when Fianna Fáil used to care about the social protection system. Can someone do a welfare check on Willie O’Dea? Where is he? He must be mortified, absolutely embarrassed. When the Society of St. Vincent de Paul said €16 were needed to be added to every core weekly payment, we agreed. We made allowance for that in our costed alternative budget. As for Fine Gael, we had the usual pre-bu…

I agree; an extraordinary service is provided. It gives stability and changes outcomes which would otherwise be very different. Tusla manages the foster parent-foster carer system. It pays the foster carer allowance which is €400 per week for per child under 12 and €425 per child 12 or over. That is to offset expenses. Accordingly, it does not affect tax. It is not assessed as a means for social a…

I thank the Deputy for his question. There have been significant improvements in recent years to the fuel allowance scheme, which has resulted in more than 100,000 additional households qualifying for the payment. The budget for the fuel allowance scheme has increased significantly, to €557.4 million in 2026. That compares with €290.45 million in 2020. In January 2023, enhanced fuel allowance meas…

Yesterday’s budget was a deep disappointment. There is real anger out there. The Government made choices in this budget that are impacting really adversely on so many people. As my colleague Deputy Nash said in what I think was the line of the day yesterday, this is a budget that is giving handouts to burger barons and big builders, but broken promises for everyone else. People see that, and this…

The formation of this Government left people under absolutely no illusion. This was a Government formed to keep the old boys club alive and well. A record number of jobs were given to as many men as possible. For every five seats at Cabinet, one is taken by a woman. They are outnumbered and I would go so far as to say completely overlooked. The Taoiseach then claimed he would sort this out. He was…

I welcome this motion from the Labour Party. The proposals in it are very sensible and should be implemented. I also acknowledge the work of Family Carers Ireland and the young carers, some of whom are here, as well as the Laois-Offaly family carers association. The means test needs to be abolished. Carers are on call 24-7. It is not like any other job. They live on small incomes and it is import…

Gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as ucht an seans cúrsaí míchumais a phlé anocht. I am not opposing the motion put forward by Sinn Féin this evening, but we will take the opportunity to discuss these important issues and lay out much of the work we are doing. We recognise, and it is not exclusive to the Opposition, the additional cost that disabled people face in their daily lives. We are committed t…

Yesterday evening I spoke about the macro situation and how the Fiscal Advisory Council had urged a cooling down, because the corporation tax receipts were not going to last forever and that this budget, in one sense because it came after a giveaway election budget, had shades of 2007. Now I want to move on to some of the specific measures in the budget. During the votes last night I got to talk a…

When this Government was formed just over 18 months ago, no one could have predicted the scale of the crisis unfolding in the Middle East, the disruption it would place on global energy markets and its impact on the cost of living in Ireland and across the world. In these times, the value of a capable and stable Government became clear. This coalition must continue to provide certainty for househo…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Sinéad Gibney - to discuss the closure of Carlow College. Deputy John Connolly - to discuss the provision of appropriate public housing for families that provide foster care. Deputy Michael Cahill - to discuss delays in payments to…

I acknowledge Jordan and Cian for coming here for the statements. Helen is here also, along with Jordan's wife Agnes and their dad who has been such a major part of the journey so far. Deputy Sherlock said they are an inspiration. They have been an inspiration to us in Ireland, in bringing the area of dementia to the floor of our national Parliament. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell…

I want to do justice to the debate. I want to deal with the issues that people raised. I want to give an idea of what my vision is on dementia. I have a vision and an actual view on what we need to do. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, did great work in the role but there are certain things I want to do structurally. I want people to have an idea of what I have in mind. The FTD brothers, Jorda…

There really is an urgency to progress and conclude the work of the Department. I strongly recommend in the first instance that there is an immediate increase in the income eligibility thresholds. I am strongly of the view, and I know the Minister is considering this, that beyond an immediate increase there needs to be a more rational system of linking those thresholds to an index, whether that is…

2. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will immediately abolish the income limit for carer’s allowance in view of the 2024 general election promises and the recent report regarding the difficulties experienced by carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46523/26]

I come back to a very important issue that I have raised previously, namely, the abolition of the means test for the carer's allowance. I am asking the Minister to do that on 1 July, in view of the promises made in the general election in 2024 by all political parties and particularly in view of the recent report by Family Carers Ireland that showed very significant issues in care provision.

I am very aware of the work of Family Carers Ireland. We host a forum specifically for carers every year. We did that in May. I am very aware of the challenges being faced by carers in terms of respite and other supports. The Deputy may have missed the point within the report that over 68% of families would now receive a carer's allowance payment as a consequence of the income disregards being cha…

Every political party, including Fianna Fáil, made a commitment in general election 2024 to abolish the carer's means test, full stop, no ifs or buts. There were no terms and conditions. There was no small print and no devil in the detail. The Government was going to abolish the means test for carer's allowance, but it has not honoured that commitment. That raises the whole question of trust in po…

I thank the Deputy. We are very committed in the Department to reducing any administrative, financial or other barrier that may prevent people from accessing their social protection entitlements. Our schemes are generally accessed through two main mechanisms: by assessing the PRSI contribution record of a person in respect of social benefit schemes; and by applying a means test and other condition…

I reiterate to the Deputy that we will engage with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. We are looking at all of our schemes to see what is stopping people from applying. At the start of the session this morning, Deputy O'Reilly raised other points in that space. I am open to feedback in relation to that. As we go to a situation where somebody on €108,000 can still access the full carer's paymen…

I am not in position to discuss in detail any measures that will be in budget 2027. Work is under way in relation to that, and the details have to be discussed within Government. However, we have made it clear that we recognise that there are significant additional costs which disabled people face in their daily lives. We are committed to addressing this as a priority over the term of this Governm…

I wish to raise the significant issue of back-to-school costs. It is my understanding that children who are entitled to school-based July provision will have to pay upwards of €120 for extracurricular activities during that period. I also wish to raise a significant issue in regard to schools requiring children to get laptops, tablets or ICT equipment for the coming academic year. It is my underst…

I condemn the horrific attack in Belfast on Monday. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family. I also condemn the racist attacks last night and join others in calling for an end to the violence. I will talk to the Taoiseach today about the extreme pressure family carers are under. Some 71% are now struggling to make ends meet, according to the recent Family Carers Ireland report. Nearly hal…

In that case, I do not know whether the Minister or Department has carried out any analysis of this area. What is the explanation for the decline in the number of recipients of invalidity pension? The number was about 55,000 in 2015, which rose to 59,000 in 2020, but the figure has fallen year on year to a low of just over 55,000 in 2024. There has been an increase of only 1% despite the populatio…