475. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently in receipt of the carer’s allowance; and her best estimate of the number of these availing of the opportunity to engage in other paid work or part-time employment. [42444/24]

At the end of September 2024 there were 97,257 recipients of Carer's Allowance. Employment data available for the whole of 2023 indicates that of the 97,257 persons currently in receipt of Carer's Allowance, 20,036 (21%) had PRSI Class A earnings in 2023. A total of 20,630 persons (21%) had earnings in September or October 2024.