11. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of paying carers who care for two or more people, based on a full carer’s allowance in respect of each person, not a half-rate for a second person. [31340/26]

Sentiment score: 0.25

I thank the Minister for that. Yesterday, myself and a number of colleagues in the House this morning attended the Family Carers Ireland briefing scorecard for 2025 in respect of the Government. The big issue that arose for many of us at that briefing was that the Government needs to listen and to listen more. The organisation appreciated the change in the means test. Obviously, many of people there said it needed to be abolished but the problem for many of them is two- or threefold. Many people who were present yesterday were caring for a second loved one and the costs do not diminish when you have a second child but they actually increase. The Minister said there is a commitment in the programme for Government to review this but we still do not have a costing on it. Does the Minister know when he may have a costing on it? Is it realistic for it to be in the programme for Government? Is it something the Department is currently looking at?

Sentiment score: 0.18

I thank the Minister for that. Regarding what he has just said on providing additional supports, in parliamentary questions I tabled to the Minister, it came to light that only 4.4% of those who were in receipt of carer's allowance were getting fuel allowance, which is a very low figure. Some 106,000 people in this country are getting carer's allowance and only short of 6,000 of those are in receipt of fuel allowance. We have been told time and again, and we were told this again yesterday, that bills for those looking after their loved ones are three times higher than those who may not have to look after loved ones. Can the Minister look at something like that for them? The costing we have on it is around €107 million but the cost involved, and we are in the middle of a fuel crisis as has already been said this morning, would make a difference to so many. The Minister knows the cost of heating, the cost of using a washing machine, etc., when you have somebody who needs that level of care. It would make a huge difference on a weekly basis.

Sentiment score: 0.20