The Taoiseach gave a commitment to phase out the means test for carer's allowance over the lifetime of the Government. It allocated €10 million for a half year in the budget - and €20 million for a full year. The Department of Social Protection tells us that it is going to cost €600 million to phase it out. At the Government's current rate, that would take 30 years. My question is a simple one. How long does the Taoiseach plan on being in government? How long is this term going to last? How long will carers have to wait to see a roadmap from the Government as to when the means test will be abolished? The Taoiseach talked a lot about it in the run-up to the last election, but now it seems to have been put even further back. I was quite shocked to see that last year the Government put €11.8 million towards the income disregard but this year it has gone down to €10 million for the half year. It is going to take 30 years at the current rate.

No.

At the current rate it is going to take 30 years.

The Deputy is scaremongering.

Can the Taoiseach give carers an assurance and the roadmap because at the current rate it will take 30 years?

I answered a question on this yesterday in response to the Deputy's party leader, I think.

I just asked for the timeline.

There has been a 60% increase in the carer's allowance weekly income disregard.

I know that.

The income disregard for a single person is now up to €1,000. It will be five years. We will do it in the lifetime of this Government. That is our commitment. What we have done this year is in line with that timetable. I have discussed this with the Minister for Social Protection.

The total is €600 million and the Government is allocating €20 million a year. That will take 30 years. The maths are very simple.

That comes from a different approach in terms of all those who could be entitled to it at the end of the process.