Minister Calleary Engages with Carers at Annual Forum

The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, addressed the Annual Carers’ Forum in Dublin today, engaging with family carers, carer organisations and departmental officials.

The Annual Carers’ Forum provides an opportunity for Government Departments, carer organisations and family carers to discuss the issues that affect family carers on a day-to day basis.

This year’s forum included themed workshops on health, social protection supports, transport, housing for people with disabilities and older individuals, and issues affecting young carers. These sessions supported open discussion and provided insights into how Government policies impact carers and those they support.

Speaking at the event, Minister Calleary said:

“Family carers are the backbone of care in Ireland. As Minister for Social Protection, I continue to work closely with carers and carer organisations. The Annual Carers’ Forum is an important opportunity for me to gain deeper insight into the issues they encounter and to hear their concerns directly.”

“This year will bring even stronger financial supports for carers. The income disregards for Carer’s Allowance will increase to €1,000 for single carers and €2,000 for couples — the highest in the scheme’s history. The Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000 will be paid on 4 June, providing further support to full‑time carers across the country.”

“These changes mean more families will be able to receive the support they need. Today’s event serves as a reminder of the value of partnership and open dialogue. Many of the improvements for carers have emerged from their firsthand insights. I remain dedicated to maintaining this ongoing engagement.”

The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious agenda for supporting carers. In particular, its aim is to phase out the means test for Carer’s Allowance over the lifetime of this Government. This has been a key priority for carers and their representative groups.

Government Departments and agencies represented at today’s forum included the Department of Social Protection, Department of Health; the Department of Children, Disability and Equality; the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Department of Transport; the National Transport Authority and Tusla.

A note of the proceedings of the Annual Carers’ Forum 2026 will be made available online at www.gov.ie/carersforum.

Notes:

Direct engagement with carers has informed a number of important improvements to carer supports in recent years, including:

• Carer’s Allowance now has the highest income disregards of any weekly payment in the social welfare system.
• In July 2025, the income disregards increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple.
• From July 2026, they will increase further to €1,000 for a single person and €2,000 for a couple.
• Since 2022, disregards have increased by over 200%, when they stood at €332.50 for a single carer and €665 for a carer who is part of a couple
• The capital disregard for carers was also increased as part of Budget 2022 to €50,000, this equates to €100,000 in the case of a couple.
• As a result, more carers now qualify for Carer’s Allowance. For example, a two‑adult household with an income of approximately €110,000 will retain the full payment, and with an income of around €138,000 will retain a partial payment.
• The Carer’s Support Grant increased by €150 to €2,000 in 2025 and will be paid this year on June 4.
• Carer’s Allowance became a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance in Budget 2025, where the other conditions are met.
• Since January 2025, Carer’s Benefit has been extended to the self‑employed.
• The monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance has increased by €70.50 since January 2023 and now stands at €380.
• In January 2026, the maximum personal rate of Carer’s Allowance increased to €270 for carers aged under 66 and €308 for those aged 66 and over. Carer’s Benefit increased to €271.
• Weekly welfare rates have increased by €51 over the last five years.
• The weekly Child Support Payment increased in January 2026 by €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over, and by €8 to €58 for children under 12 — the largest increase in the history of the State.
• Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance can now be applied for online through MyWelfare.
• The Long‑Term Carer’s Contribution scheme, introduced in January 2024, supports long‑term full‑time carers in qualifying for the State Pension (Contributory).
• The Programme for Government commits to progressively increasing weekly Carer’s payments, further increasing the Carer’s Support Grant, examining supports for carers providing full‑time care to more than one person, and significantly increasing income disregards in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test for Carer’s Allowance over the lifetime of the Government.