Tipperary family carers deserve more than broken promises, Dail Eireann is told

In a debate in Dáil Éireann on the Social Welfare Bill 2026 South Tipperary TD Seamus Healy said family carers deserved more than broken promises.

Deputy Healy said family carers did a huge amount of work on behalf of the State and that since 2016 the number of family carers had increased by 53% and the number providing care for over 43 hours per week had doubled.

“ It is relatively accepted on all sides of this House that carers save the State something in the region of €20 billion per year. A recent survey by Family Carers Ireland showed 71% of carers find it difficult to make ends meet, 75% never receive respite, 32% have bad or very bad mental health and 49% experience extreme loneliness. Many carers become ill themselves and some even pass away before the individual they are caring for, “ said Deputy Healy.

Deputy Healy said that every party in the run up to the last election promised the abolition of the means test for carer’s allowance.

“That was a commitment given in that election but has since been broken. Family Carers Ireland also made a very modest request to have the carer's support grant, a grant paid once a year, increased by €150 - not even in line with inflation - but that was not granted. If we look back from 2021 to 2024, there was no increase in that grant. There was an increase in 2025, but that was of course ahead of a general election in November of that year. There has since been no increase in 2026 or 2027. This should be rectified in the Social Welfare Bill.

There are a huge number of unavoidable costs associated with caring, which is why the carer's allowance should be increased to €350 and why a proper cost of disability payment should be paid. For carers in particular who are involved in education or training, the 18.5 hours working outside the home should be removed for that training and education. Many elderly parents and carers over the age of 66 are being paid as half-rate carers, and this needs to be addressed. Family Carers Ireland has asked that the full rate carer's allowance be paid to pensioners who are caring.

In particular, the working family payment should be amended to ensure income from a carer's allowance is disregarded in the means test for that payment. This is a particularly cruel regulation, and I appeal to the Minister to look at, change and include the amendment in this Bill. I have encountered a very difficult situation with a constituent family whereby a son with very complex and difficult needs was being looked after at home on a 24-hour basis with the support of two family members right around the clock. That young lad passed away and the family tried to get back to some bit of normality. The father was able to get some temporary, part-time work but his working family payment was reduced when taking into account the carer's allowance his wife was receiving for another child with a disability. This needs to be addressed and changed,” concluded @Deputy Healy.