Under current rules, many carers are refused support because their partner’s income pushes them over the threshold, a situation campaigners say is blatantly unfair and urgently needs to be scrapped.
As the Budget approaches, Ongar Aontú councillor Gerard Sheehan has renewed calls on the Government to abolish the means test, describing it as discriminatory and unjust.
He pointed to new figures showing that 37 per cent of applications are being rejected each year, leaving many families without support they should rightfully receive.
“Once again Aontú has led the charge on this deeply unjust means test,” he said.
“New figures have revealed that 37% of applications are being rejected each year, which is extraordinary.
“It just goes to show that too many carers are still being locked out of support they deserve.
“The means test is a sharp implement, especially towards women who are refused based on a partner’s income.
“I really resent this, and it flies in the face of our so-called ‘progressive, all singing, all dancing Ireland’.”
The councillor said it is “blatantly wrong” that a woman caring for a family member should be refused an allowance in her own right.
“The Government must act now, not wait until 2029, to end this system,” he added.
The Carer’s Allowance currently provides between €260 and €447 a week.
However, anyone earning over €625 a week as a single person, or €1,250 as a couple, is excluded under the rules.
Cllr Sheehan also pointed to the Carer’s Referendum held in March 2024.
“In the lead-up to the referendum, the Government went to great lengths to downplay the impact of its proposal and its efforts to reduce their responsibility for carers across the country,” he said.
“Thankfully, the public saw through it and delivered a thumping to the Government and all opposition parties who pushed it, except Aontú who stood alone against it, with the referenda being overwhelmingly defeated.”
Following that vote, Aontú and members of the Regional Technical Group introduced a Dáil motion calling for the abolition of the means test by 2027.
The Government did not oppose this motion and gave reassurances that it would work towards that deadline.
“It’s even in the Programme for Government so it simply has to honour it or else face a huge public outcry,” Cllr Sheehan warned.
He added that carers continue to save the State millions every year. “They deserve fairness, not rejection letters,” he said.