233. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the weekly carer’s allowance to €320 by 2030. [43786/24]

The estimated full year cost of increasing all personal rates of weekly carer's allowance from the current rates to €320 per week is €264.56 million.

This costing is on a full year basis and is based on 2024 rates and the estimated number of recipients. It is not possible to estimate for subsequent years to 2030 due to lack of information on future recipient numbers, which will be affected by a number of factors including demographics and the economic cycle.

It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2025. It should also be noted that this costing includes those on half-rate carer's allowance.