Kenny refuses to bow to pressure to reverse cut

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has refused to reverse the 20% reduction in the carer’s respite grant despite pleas from the opposition benches to heed the impassioned appeal of a husband caring for his ill wife to leave the grant alone.

Mr Kenny defended the cut, saying it was better than cutting pensions or the full-time carer’s allowances.

The Taoiseach faced questions in the Dáil following an impassioned letter from Pat O’Mahony about caring for his wife Margaret, a polio survivor, in the Irish Examiner yesterday.