1 week Ago By [email protected] (Ciara O'Loughlin)
Fine Gael will introduce a new family carer payment of €325 a week and abolish the current means test if the party returns to Government. This means a couple could earn €2,500 per week and still qualify for the full carers allowance payment, which is double the current cap. Currently, family carers receive a maximum of €248 a week if they are caring for one person.
READ MORE - Irish General Election 2024: Over 115,000 people register to vote in November READ MORE - Irish election 2024: Fine Gael vow to cap childcare at €600 a month for families Taoiseach Simon Harris is set to make the announcement on Thursday. If implemented, the new cap would mean if one parent has to give up their job to give full time care to a child with special needs, the other parent could earn up to €130,000 a year and still qualify for the payment. Fine Gael has said this limit would be continued to be increased in each Budget, and the means test will be phased out in the lifetime of the next Government.
A spokesperson said: “Most people in the social welfare system receive a payment because they either can’t work or won’t work. Carers are working 24/7 providing full-time care to loved ones – we need to recognise them. “If a mother has to give up her job and career to provide full time care to a child with a disability, the current system means if her husband earns over a certain limit – she is essentially not recognised by the State.
"Carers save the State billions every year – the Taoiseach is determined that they are recognised and the vital work they do is valued.” Read all the latest headlines and breaking news on our homepage ..
