Carers’ means test should be abolished

I WAS saddened recently to see the blocking of an ambitious Labour Party Dáil motion and Private Members’ Bill that would have provided for a range of supports for the 150,000 family carers in Ireland.

The motion called for the right of carers to an assessment of needs, as well as the abolition of the means test for the carers’ allowance. Importantly, the motion called for a shift in resources to home care subvention, as well as the development of a national strategy for carers.

We in Care Alliance welcomed this motion and the subsequent debate that followed in the Dáil. Clearly, with burgeoning exchequer figures, the decision about how to spend this largesse will not be easy.