I wish to raise the issue of means-testing carer's allowance for the parents of incapacitated children. A case has been brought to my attention where the mother of a nine-year-old girl who cannot walk, talk or eat gave up her job to look after her child full-time. This woman left a very well-paying job to care for her daughter. The means test for carer's allowance is now affording her €46 per week for what is a 24-7 caring role. The family's mortgage repayments, health insurance, increasing expenses and the cost of heating the home for a child with this level of needs were not considered. This woman works 24-7 to take care of her child. This is without mentioning the additional costs on the family of caring for a child with complex needs. On top of this, the State is being saved thousands of euro per week by the mother staying at home to care for her daughter rather than leaving it to the State to pay for her care full-time. I believe this injustice needs to be tackled immediately and means-testing should not apply for the care of incapacitated children.

I thank the Deputy for the question. There has been some relevant change in this area very recently. Just this week, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, announced a change in the capital disregards in the means-testing for carer's allowance. It has been increased from €20,000 to €50,000. That may or may not impact this case but if Deputy Cahill contacts me I will be glad to pass on the details of that particular case to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys.