Across Ireland, 624,000 people provide regular unpaid care to children and adults with additional needs. A recent 2026 report on care shows that 75% of carers never received respite, 49% cut back on essentials such as food and heating, and 48% experienced severe loneliness. Of course, these carers saved the State millions of euro annually. I have a specific question arising from a family in my constituency. This family's severely disabled teenaged son passed away last year after a long and traumatic illness. The dad had to give up work but is now in a position to return to work. He is being penalised by way of a reduction of his working family payment because his wife's carer's allowance for another family member is assessed against him. This is deeply unfair and I would ask that the Minister ensure the carer's allowance payment is disregarded for purposes of assessment of the working family payment.

Sentiment score: -0.12