Carers in Kildare will be key priority for support in next budget - junior minister

Over 5,000 Kildare carers are set to receive the carers' support grant of €1,850 this week, according to local TD and Minister for State Martin Heydon.  

The Carers Support Grant will be paid to 5,092 Kildare carers this week in recognition of the key role played by carers every single day and the additional needs of them and their families.

It will be paid to all carers providing full time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. 

The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers.

Mr Heydon said that carers remain a key priority for support as preparations continue for the next budget.

The junior minister added: “The Carer’s Support Grant will be paid automatically to all recipients of Carer’s Allowance (whether full rate or half rate), Carer’s Benefit, or Domiciliary Care Allowance. 

"It is also available to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments." 

The Kildare South TD continued: “Carers play a vital role in our communities and society and this grant is one of a series of measures to recognise that contribution.

"My colleague Minister Heather Humphreys is also putting in place measures to provide a scheme to ensure that long-term carers are provided with paid contributions for gaps in their social insurance record for the first time in the history of the State. 

"This will enhance State Pension provision for carers who have spent more than 20 years of their lives caring.

"This is part of our response to the Government’s Commission on pensions – recognising that our long term carers deserve support in this regard."