Earlier we had a debate about carers and carer's allowance and how carers need to be treated better. We have a situation whereby somebody applying for carer's allowance cannot work more than 18 hours a week. People are participating on schemes which require them to work 19.5 hours, for instance, the rural social scheme which is a social activation scheme, not a job activation scheme. It is important we allow people to work this extra hour and a half and still qualify for the carer's allowance. It is important, in view of all that has been said, that we make sure caring is available in the home and those who are caring have some sort of an outlet whereby they can work locally for their own feeling of fulfilment in their community. It is important in the context of the next budget that we look at changing the hours allowed from 18 to 19.5 to meet this.

I thank Deputy Canney. We will certainly give this consideration. I note the motion he brought forward to the House recently on a range of issues to do with carers. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, indicated at the time her intention to look at a number of these issues and the means testing issue in advance of the budget. We will factor this into our budget considerations and engage with Deputy Canney before it.