Today 125,000 carers across the State will receive the support grant of €1,850. This was announced by the Minister today. Contained in the press release was an announcement that the Government will put place measures to provide paid pension contributions for long-term carers who have been caring for more than 20 years. These are people who are saving the State money and who are providing quality care. When they retire, they have an entitlement to retire and have financial security like any other workers in the State. Does the Minister welcome this measure? Will he ensure that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, announces the details and prescribes the scheme as soon as possible?

As Deputy McAuliffe has rightly said, the grant will be paid out for 125,000 carers. The overall cost of this grant is expected to be in the region of €260 million. Very importantly, the Government is committed to enhance the State pension provision for carers who have spent more than 20 years of their lives caring. This is part of our response to the Government's Commission on Pensions, recognising that our long-term carers deserve support in that regard. We will see details of this coming forward over the coming months in advance of the budget. I thank Deputy McAuliffe for his continued support and advocacy for our carers. I want to let the Deputy and the House know that the Government continues to be very grateful for the work that carers do, and we will continue to support them and enhance the support we give them.

As already mentioned, and as the Minister will be aware, carers do fantastic work. There is no doubt about that. I believe that every Deputy in the House would agree with that statement. Carers save the State €20 billion every year, in addition to the fantastic work they do. Family Carers Ireland supports some 500,000 carers across the State. That is not enough, however, in the context of supports. That organisation is fantastic. I attended the launch of its Heart of Gold campaign last Thursday. We need more support from the Government for carers. For example, will the means test be abolished? It is unfair that the means test is set up in such a way for carers. Will it be abolished or will the income threshold for carers' allowance be increased? These are practical measures the Government could take to help carers and support them into the future.

I agree with Deputy Nolan completely. Carers carry out an incredible role across the State in looking after loved ones. Even if we set aside the financial costs, the work they do and their commitment to it is something we absolutely support. In my response to Deputy McAuliffe just now I mentioned the additional grant payment that is being paid out to 125,000 carers at a cost of €260 million. We are going to enhance pension provision for carers, which is a really important step forward. We will also look at other supports for carers in advance of the budget.

The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, is actively engaged in that. I commend the work of Family Carers Ireland as an advocacy and representative group. I thank Deputy Nolan for raising the issue.