Longford / Westmeath Sinn Féin TD Sorca Clarke calls for abolition of means test for carers

Sinn Féin TD Sorca Clarke has called on Longford-Westmeath TDs to support Sinn Féin’s call to scrap the means test for carers.

Deputy Clarke was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin using its final Dáil motion of this term to highlight this issue.

The motion, brought forward by Sinn Féin spokesperson on Social Protection Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD and spokesperson on Carers and Disability Pauline Tully, also calls for the changes to means test thresholds contained in Budget 2025 to be brought forward to January in line with other social welfare recipients.

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Teachta Clarke said: “A Sinn Féin government would abolish the means test for carers.

“Carers and people with disabilities deserve respect and deserve to be listened to.

“Instead, under Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, so many carers are struggling financially and are receiving payments way below the established minimum essential standard of living.

“The means test excludes thousands of carers, and results in many receiving reduced and inadequate payments.

“A further insult to carers is that they are being told to wait until next summer to see any increases in their thresholds, instead of in January as with other social welfare recipients.

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“Carers shouldn’t be pushed to the back of the queue. They shouldn’t have to wait six months for modest improvements to the system.

“The changes to carers means test thresholds contained in Budget 2025 must be brought forward to January 2025.

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“I want to be very clear that respect for carers is going to be a very important issue for Sinn Féin in the general election campaign.

“Sinn Féin strongly believes that the crucial and vital role that carers do in supporting their loved ones must be recognised.

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“That is why we are very clearly setting out our stall that, in government, Sinn Féin would bring an end to the means test for carers, and that we would deliver this over the course of a term in government.”