Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has criticised the government for persisting with a means test for carers even in a time of large budget surplus, saying that Sinn Féin is committed to abolishing the means test for carers over the course of a term in government.

Teachta Crowe said:

“Carers and those deserve our respect and their work and vital support.

“Under Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, too many carers are struggling financially and are receiving payments way below the established minimum essential standard of living.

“The current means test excludes thousands of carers, and results in many receiving inadequate payments or none at all.

“A further insult to carers and vital work they do is that they are being told to wait until next summer to see any increases in their thresholds, instead of in January as with all other social welfare recipients.

“Sinn Féin strongly believes that the crucial and vital role that carers do in supporting their loved ones must be recognised and rewarded.

“That is why we are very clearly setting out our message that, in government, Sinn Féin would bring an end to the means test for carers, and that we would deliver this over the course of a term in government.

“The changes to carers means test thresholds contained in Budget 2025 must be brought forward to January 2025.

“Carers deserve a government that respects them and their work and that is why we are committed to abolishing the means test for carers over the course of a term in government.”