Yesterday was European Carers Day. In an online briefing, Family Carers Ireland spoke of the pressures that family carers are under to meet their bills. Some are forced to make a choice between heating their homes and getting their shopping. The programme for Government commits to improving supports for carers. Now that electricity and other utility bills are going up for many, will the Government provide supports for carers to deal with cost increases such as these, given that many do not quality for the fuel allowance? This sector has done unbelievable work, mostly unseen, during this pandemic and no help was given to them. The Government must do the right thing next week in the budget and help the sector.

The Government has great appreciation for the work of the many carers across the country. The Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform are mindful of that in the context of the forthcoming budget, alongside all the challenges they will face which they have to engage with and try to manage within available resources. There had been continuing provision of resources to carers.

Obviously, more would be desired and more can be done. Again, I will not pre-empt the budget at this particular point.