Sinn Féin spokesperson on Social Protection, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has said that Sinn Féin will table amendments to the Social Welfare bill to ensure that carers do not have to wait until next July to see changes to the income thresholds in the Carers Allowance means test.

Teachta Ó Laoghaire said:

“Carers are being told to wait by this government

“We know that carers are at a much higher risk of poverty, yet carers all across the state have been told to wait until July 2025 before they see any changes to the means test.

“These measures were announced as part of Budget 2025. It is wrong for carers to be told by the government to wait until next summer.

“Why should Carers have to wait six months later than everyone else to get the benefit of the threshold increase?

“And it seems they will have to wait for a change of government in order to see an end to the means test.

“Sinn Féin committed to a significant increase in the Carers Allowance means test thresholds, going further than the Government.

“Sinn Féin would have increased the income thresholds to €730 for a single person and €1,460 for a couple compared to the government proposal of only increasing the disregards to €625 and €1,250.

“We allocated €100m to this measure, the government’s allocation of €11.8m for this measure was far too little. Sinn Féin provided an allocation of €100m for this measure – 10 times higher than that of the government.

“Carers need support and that is why, when the Social Welfare Bill is brought to the Dáil, we will table amendments to bring these changes into effect from January and not from July as the government intends.

“We hope that the government will support these amendments and give carers the support and recognition that they deserve.

“Ultimately the government needs to deliver an end to the means test.

“Sinn Féin would deliver that over the course of a term in government, and we are calling on the government to commit to this.

“Carers shouldn’t be pushed to the back of the queue. They shouldn’t have to wait six months for modest improvements to the system.”