Written answer
Social Welfare Rates
The Minister said raising carer’s payments to €325 weekly would cost an estimated €242 million annually, subject to recipient numbers and budget deliberations.
101. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will increase carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit to €325 per week. [67667/26]
Comment on this
The estimated full year cost of increasing both Carers' Benefit and Carer's Allowance to €325 per week is €242 million. This includes a €17 increase for Carer's Allowance for recipients aged over 66, a €55 increase for Carer's Allowance recipients aged under 66 and a €54 increase for Carer's Benefit.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2026, and include proportionate increases to Half Rate Carer's Allowance and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2027 and budget deliberations.