Across Ireland, 624,000 people provide regular unpaid care to children and adults with additional needs. A recent 2026 report on care shows that 75% of carers never received respite, 49% cut back on essentials such as food and heating, and 48% experienced severe loneliness. Of course, these carers saved the State millions of euro annually. I have a specific question arising from a family in my constituency. This family's severely disabled teenaged son passed away last year after a long and traumatic illness. The dad had to give up work but is now in a position to return to work. He is being penalised by way of a reduction of his working family payment because his wife's carer's allowance for another family member is assessed against him. This is deeply unfair and I would ask that the Minister ensure the carer's allowance payment is disregarded for purposes of assessment of the working family payment.

I ask the Deputy to relay my condolences to his constituent at this very difficult time. As Minister of State with responsibility for disability, we are doing a huge amount of work to increase residential and indeed respite placements across the country. Just this week, the HSE announced funding for alternative respite to take place through the summer months.

The Deputy's particular query about carers is something that I will raise with the Minister for Social Protection, regarding payments and thresholds. The Deputy will know that, as of last week, carers' payments thresholds have increased, so more people are now eligible for this. If the Deputy wants to pass his case on to me, I can raise it with the Department of Social Protection or he can raise it directly with the Minister for Social Protection.