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CARERS IN WEXFORD have accused Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys of “speaking out of both sides of your mouth”, Independent TD Verona Murphy told the Dáil this afternoon.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Murphy told the Minister that those who are currently ineligible to receive payments under the Carers’ Allowance were hurt, enraged, in disbelief and disappointed that the means test on the scheme has not been abolished.
She said the decision not to abolish the means test represents a “disregard” on the Government’s behalf for all carers, as she claimed many may never be eligible for the payments – despite attempts to increase the threshold.
Abolishing the means test of the carers’ allowance, which decides whether someone is eligible for payments based on their income and assets, was a prominent topic in the Dáil this afternoon.
Murphy, Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West Éamon Ó Cuív and independent TD for Tipperary Mattie McGrath all took the opportunity to voice their objection to the means test while Humphreys took questions at Leinster House.
The Wexford TD, a member of the Regional Independents Group, quoted Humphreys directly from remarks in the media and in the Dáil where she said more could be done to benefit carers if a Yes vote was achieved during the Care Referendum in March.
Defending her case, the Minister said: “I can be accused of many things but I can say speaking out of both sides of my mouth is not normally what I do.”
Humphreys said, as Minister, she has engaged with many carers who welcomed the increased, bumper and extended payments which were included in Budget 2025.
“These changes will mean that I have effectively doubled the income limits for the carers’ allowance over the lifetime of this Government, enabling thousands of more carers to qualify for a payment,” she told the Dáil.
Studies commissioned by the Government and care groups have previously recommended for the abolition of the means test. Murphy asked why Humphreys has not decided to follow those recommendations.
Separately, Murphy put to the Minister that the means test was based on household income, meaning a carer’s eligibility is based on an income that “they don’t even have a share in”.
Humphreys said that the measures in Budget 2025 were going to help carers and reasoned that all necessary changes could not be made in one day.
Speaking later, McGrath said that it was unacceptable that carers had to wait the longest amount of time to avail of the new measures in the Budget when compared to others. He too called for the means test to be abolished.
Humphries said a working group has been established in Government and that a report will be prepared by the end of the year.
Ó Cuív also called for the means test to be scrapped while he asked for an update on a separate report into the disability allowance.
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Hi journal could you please print more articles like this so I can show them to my girlfriend and convince her that me buying a Ps4 will not turn me into a sedentary immobile cabbage as she seems to believe it would? Thanka
Forget about your ps4 and build a pc for gaming :)
is that not a good bit more expensive/hassle? Though it has the Trojan horse advantage that I could pretend Im dropping a grand on it for its amazing word processing capabilities only to “discover” it can be used for games too once its in the door!
If you love gaming you’ll know the difference between console and PC gaming and money won’t come into it :)
My gaming pc only cost 200 more than my xbox one/ps4. The extra you spend you will save after buying 10 full price AAA games from steam.
Pc can be built for €600 and upgraded when needed. Lasts longer and games are cheaper.
Gaming PC pffft. How long are you waiting to play Gta 5 now?
I’d love to build a gaming PC someday.
T
Great piece. I’d even argue that games in themselves are a great stress reliever, without even trying to establish the link as directly as you have with the PIP. I find them great for blowing off some steam.
So sick of the ridiculous articles about games and ‘de-sensitising’ that do the rounds every so often, nice to read one without the scare-mongering!
I think it depends a lot on the type of game and the player’s personality. When I play CS:GO I don’t usually find it relaxing. Fun, yes, but stressful! Skyrim I find relaxing and I play a game called Cue Club. I think that open world games can be the best for relaxing and de-stressing (although a lot can be said for unloading a machine gun into a swarm of monsters attacking you!) as you can usually do whatever you like. I remember playing GTA3 years ago and just driving around. That’s it. Having fun driving around the city and trying out different vehicles.
I’d agree that gaming is a nice way to put the feet up and relax… right up to the point where I discovered Dark Souls and my blood pressure has never been the same since!
I hear that game is brutally tough, lol.
I’ve started playing Risk of Rain. It’s fun but you will die a lot. Like most roguelikes.
Games are for children. Any grown man playing computer games deserves to be neutered at the balls.
Newsflash many games aren’t actually made for children, the biggest selling games are always over 18′s and the average age of a typical “gamer” is actually 31 http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/29/gaming-advocacy-group-the-average-gamer-is-31-and-most-play-on-a-console/
Closer inspection of your profile pic and the name ‘anto’ has ruled your opinion null and void.
Games are for children? Really? Have you heard of F.E.A.R., Amnesia the dark descent, GTA, Silent Hill or Dead Space? Don’t think the developers had children as their target market there.
Or you could do some exercise or something useful. Gaming is an absolute waste of time. It’s bad enough children playing but anyone still interested in games as an adult needs to grow up.
I don’t have a TV. I agree most programming these days is even more moronic than wasting your life prancing around virtual reality.
I bet you sit on the sofa like a lemon watching rubbish tv shows on your laptop while your brain melts away. At least with gaming you’re using it.
Touch a nerve did I lads? Keep wasting you’re lives away, no skin off my back.
Your.
I’m certainly not wasting my life away. I find gaming relaxes me, makes me forget the troubles at hand. Get this, I read books too.
Endas too busy wrecking the country to have the time to play a game and chill out. If he’s as good at gaming as he is at running the country yeah you get my drift. )
Tell me how the typical evening goes in your house Enda, and please be honest. What do you do to chill out and take the edge off the day?
Enda stop being a right old one and get with the times grandad
It’s hard enough to get the kids off these games as it is,don’t want them to see this,or it will be impossible
Exactly, like the world needs more man-babies.
It’s better than watching tv.
I know the kids today with their “pop music” and “vidja games” in your day I bet you had a stick and were happy with that ehh?
Luddites
All the wives and girlfriends will be on giving out about their men folk anytime now. I have a ps4 it’s an excellent piece of equipment for helping to just loose yourself for a while in a game. I will admit you don’t notice the time go though. My wife thinks I’m a man child I keep telling her there are millions of men out there that are gamers. Don’t smoke or gamble I do exercise and have a hobby and spend quality time with the family so what harm is it to loose yourself in a game every and then while she’s down watching X factor or I’m a celebrity or strictly come dancing or East Enders or emerdale etc etc,so you see girls lighten up on the lads and their gaming.
Leslie: Teach your children time management skills, and if they are too young to self regulate then its your job to do it with them. Certain types of Games are excellent for children’s’ development – but like all things in life there must be moderation.
Gaming isn’t just for kids or adult men – women are a huge part of the gaming market. I’m an avid gamer and playing online is a wonderful sort of socialising. When my kids are in bed, I get to hang out with my international gaming mates from the comfort of home, and I’ve travelled to spend time with some in countries and cities I might not have visited otherwise, and some have come and visited Ireland. No soaps or “reality” tv shite in our home – gamers for life!
You should try and get her into gaming. I found the Lego games as a great introduction to gaming for the girlfriend.
Tv is terrible totally agree with you
Well don’t play fifa if ur lookin to reduce stress levels u will jus end up most of the time with a bill for a smashed controller and they ain’t cheap nowadays 50/60 a pop for the new gen consoles…
I so know what you mean.
What’s a PIP?
” As part of my final year project, I was given the chance to develop a prototype app for the PIP, a biosensor which helps manage stress. “
What fantastic projects are you working on in your spare time Enda?
It be adult’s buying them as there over 18. Buying them for there children in most cases. It’s not real life.
So the link I previously posted staying the average gamer is 31 you disagree with? You have any facts to back that up?
Enda? I’m nothing like Enda. I’m working class and I work for cash in hand and collect the dole
Anto is clearly a troll account, that comment coupled with profile pic proves it. Don’t feed the troll
Ian the majority buying those games. Even the 18 and over 1s are children. Foghorn, anto is short for Tony thanks. And Hugh, your girlfriend is write
Okay show me statistics proving that the majority buying them are children?
Ian, I don’t understand what you’re getting at here? So because a lot of grown men like playing childish games that makes it somehow ok?
Games specifically designed for adults that are over 18 are childish?
I was a manager in Gamestop few years ago, the average age of game purchaser is late 30s, you’re talking hole anto
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