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GE2024carers means testTHERE’S SOME BIG spending election promises being made by Fine Gael this week, such as abolishing the means tests for carers.
The party’s manifesto, which will be launched on Sunday, will have all eyes on it and its costings, for instance, where the next government will find possibly €2 billion for that specific measure.
Earlier in the week, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald accused Simon Harris of being “pretty intent on stealing Sinn Fein’s ideas”, referencing Harris’s announcement of a full review of the means testing for carers’ welfare payments.
“For somebody who talks a lot about new energy and new ideas, Simon Harris actually has no new ideas, and in the absence of ideas of his own, he seems to be pretty intent on stealing Sinn Fein’s ideas,” she said.
To this, Harris later said “Deputy McDonald can keep her policies. It wasn’t her idea, but it was the idea from carers and my party is in the business of listening and acting.”
For many years, there have been calls for the means test to be scrapped, but successive governments have rebuffed the calls, stating that it would be too expensive.
There have been criticisms of Fine Gael who have been accused putting things in their manifesto that they said were not achievable when they were in government, such as the VAT reduction for hospitality. Mere weeks ago, during budget talks, the government said such measure could not be done. Similarly, the same was said about means testing of carers.
However, Fine Gael has now moved the dial on it, but questions are being asked about why the measure is now affordable, just two short months after stating that it was not.
In Dáil debate in September on a private members motion on means testing carers, which proposed a roadmap for abolishing the test by 2027, the former junior minister in the Department of Social Protection Joe O’Brien outlined why the government was opposing such a motion.
He said some 97,406 people are currently supported by this payment, with expenditure on the carer’s allowance scheme estimated to be over €1.1 billion this year.
O’Brien went on to state the cost of the abolition, according to department officials:
“Officials in the Department have conservatively estimated that the cost of removing the means test for carer’s allowance would be an additional €600 million per annum, based on current claim numbers, that is, in other words, before adding any new inflow of claims.”
He went on state that according to census data, there are a lot more people that described themselves as ‘carers’ than the official department data of who is receiving the payment already.
If it is the case that the number of carers is significantly higher high, “it follows that the cost of abolition of the means test is also high”, he said.
O’Brien went on to state what the department’s estimation is in that case:
“The Department has costed a potential inflow of the people who self-reported as carers in the census.
Once the inflow is reckoned, the cost estimates rise to between €880 million and €2 billion a year.
Asked about the party’s spending commitments at the policy launch event in Dublin on Friday, McEntee said the Fine Gael manifesto would demonstrate the costings behind all its proposals.
McEntee was specifically asked about the promise to scrap the means test for carers, stating:
“Everything in our manifesto has been costed.”
Earlier in the week, McEntee and her party colleague, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe took aim at Fianna Fáil’s manifesto costings, stating they left a lot to be desired.
“As a party, we have been very clear, and I think over the last number of years, we have shown that while we are listening to the concerns of people, while we will do everything that we can to respond to the asks that people have of this government, whether it’s education, whether it’s childcare, whether it’s responding to justice matters, we will provide the support that is needed, while at the same time making sure that we stick within the boundaries and the fiscal rules that we’ve set ourselves,” McEntee said yesterday when quizzed on the costing of the measure.
“And I think we all know that from Paschal Donohoe (public expenditure minister) that everything that we have put out and set out in our manifesto, which we’ll be publishing on Sunday, that that is costed,” she said.
A commitment of €2 billion in any manifesto would be considered an absolutely huge deal, but it’s one that will have to be clearly outlined by the party this weekend.
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The level of promises from all politicians and parties are pretty sickening at this stage.
@P. J.: more than sickening it’s disgusting.
@P. J.: like getting childrens hospital finished. People with families into houses before others from other countries . Like getting more hospital beds endless.
@P. J.: Money trees only exist in the world of Harris and Martin. Their pie in the sky promises will be removed from everyones memories if they get their feet under the Ministerial tables again.
@Paul Linehan:
No Paul, I said ALL politicians and stand by that.
Old age pensioner lifing on bread line 280euro a week
@Tony Gleeson: Ireland has one of the highest state pensions in Europe, not to mention all the additional payments such as fuel allowance, living alone allowance etc
@Tony Gleeson: all they can afford to eat is bread, no heating on either.
@Johnny Wilson: This is pure delusion,Ireland is one of the very few countries in Europe, including Eastern Europe with a once-size-fits-all all pension, in most of Europe, people get paid between 75% and 90% of your last salary calculated in your last 10 years income with a generous cap, in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Sweden, you can make close to €100K a year and your pension will be 80% of that salary, for life. The non contributory pension that these countries have for people who never worked like housewives and other circumstances are called basic pension and their rates are on par to our state pension with many perks.
@Johnny Wilson: big lie, hold on their jonny. Ireland one of the lowest pensions, compared to our European neighbours. We are bottom.
@Johnny Wilson: Also one of the highest cost of living in Europe, highest energy, service charges,, food shopping, Insurance, healthcare , housing, transport etc. Prices here are 42pc higher than the average for the EU, just pipping Denmark which is the most expensive, according to figures from the EU’s statistical agency Eurostat. The allowances you reference are restricted to the persons own status and are not universal, for many there is only the old age pension and indeed for some who do not qualify under the 2012 legislation (520 credits) there is no pension in their own right what so ever.
@Buster Lawless: do pensioners not get free electricity over 65 or is that tv licence
@Karen Marten: I believe the package you are referring to is the Household benefits Package which people over the age of 70 are entitled to. It provides a free TV licence and €1.15 per day towards electricity or gas. (either) .
@Tony Gleeson: I’m a pensioner and Ireland is by far the best place to be on a pension. Look across the water and compare .
Vote Catching Exercise.
What about disability, was never means tested before and now it is, not even just for tye person but their partner as well? No support in finding work with a disability and when you do find work you are treated as if the disability just disappeared. Point being is that if a person with a disability becomes unable to work then they’ve to go through the rigmarole of applying for it again which takes upwards of a year at best. Does a person with a disability really need that? According to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil the answer is yes, you’re nearly better off staying on it as you are not counted as unemployed on disability.
@Brian D’Arcy: It was always means tested , and I know this as I was means tested as I couldn’t work after my cancer, still can’t, but that’s a blessing as I qualified for my personal pension.
Listen but you don’t act or keep your promises. Scoliosis being a big example and say all you want you lied.
By the way I am not affiliated to any political party or person.
FG also promised to abolish the USC. They had their chance in govt. Evict them and 15th count Simon
So they can do all this when there not in government but when they get back in they can’t do it
What stopped FG from even mentioning all of these premises in the past 7 years? The things politicians do for a vote, and they’re indirectly calling us stupid because it takes a stupid to believe all of their words when they had years to do them or at least say it
@J Ven: sure SF put a VAT reduction bill before them about 3 weeks ago where they rejected it and now FG are campaigning to deliver it! Same with childcare, FG are promising to deliver it AFTER they rejected it.
@J Ven: Discrimination against people who worked hard all their lives can’t be tolerated. Politicising care is nasty.
“Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody sued an official leading the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a staff member this week for skipping homes in disaster relief areas if the residence had a Trump sign.
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And T.D’s who take the full wage can speak for the ordinary person? Vote for a party that takes the average industrial wage and feels the same costs as the ordinary person, vote for Sinn Féin.
Never forget that the Leo fellah scampered and left this country in a mess FG leader probably the worst ever. Lest we forget please.
I think if a “promise” is made pre election by a political party it should be legally binding. If you promise it you make it happen within the lifetime of the government or face the consequences. Unfortunately and usually this is all spin and will never happen.
Sickening that they’re all playing to the fears of carers who have been marginalised, neglected, hounded & worse. FG have been in power for 13 years but now they want to fix everything!
I saw a poster a few weeks back from a FG Senator with a double barreled name in a relatively affluent area & it made me laugh. The meeting being organised was an online meeting about how to tackle child poverty. I felt it was ironic that her party had been in power for all those years yet child poverty is now a concern.
I’m sick of these types of promises because they will come up with some excuse not to go through with it once in government
Rest In Peace Jon Kenny . D’Unbelievables , a great comedy duo .
Why not allow them work more than 18 hours a week?? By doing so you increase the workforce significantly and increase their income and quality of life. It also brings in extra revenue for the government in prsi and tax contributions. It will also enable carers pay more into their pension.
@Dara Shortt: it seems to me that you have never been in a full on carers shoes. Lots of them are providing a services to the health services 24/7. Where are they supposed to find more hours each wk to pay for the social service they provide.
@North Phone Bowe: in fairness if there was an option to work part time while my son is in school I would pay more tax, be happier feeling productive and as a result I would require less from the state in the long run.
Being a carer is not a vocation people do it out of duty, love and even obligation but ultimately it benefits the state so support us with a proper dignified carers allowance in case we can’t work but applaud if we can and not punish us for being able to work while caring!
The big giveaway by FG just shows how nervous they are they realise they could be finished, and with a bit of luck, people are not falling for this carrot dangling rubbish
More foolhardy welfare handouts from Fine Gael to those who don’t need it. Instead of focusing on actually doing something useful, like reducing crime, tackling immigration or paying off the national debt, they want to go on a spending spree with taxpayer money. Proper means tests make sure that people who don’t need handouts don’t get them, resources are allocated in an efficient manner, self-reliance is increased and most importantly, goes against the main purpose of welfare handouts like this in the first place, which is that welfare handouts like these are not supposed go to people who are wealthy enough to care for people without getting taxpayer money. I guess this is another reason why I won’t be voting for Fine Gael among the long list – I don’t support welfare fraud.
@Frank O’Hara: Anyone who does not support the abolition of the MEAN Test for carers allowance has no understanding of what it’s like to have to give up your career, suffer complete social isolation and not have an income limited as it is of your own.
It’s not fraud it’s not charity it’s a sign of understanding that payment should be based solely on the level of care required and while given out of absolute love for the cared for it’s a vital help to the carers well being.
@Tim Brennan: I will always be a strong supporter of means testing. Welfare is a privilege, not a right. I will always oppose any measure which requires more taxpayer money. Life isn’t always going to be completely fair to be blunt with you and the means test is the best way to make sure that we are not overspending on certain budgetary areas. It takes into account your current income, whether you are holding any capital investments and shares and whether you have anyone else living in the home with you while you are a carer. What exactly do you not find fair about the means test? Do you not think it’s important to clamp down on welfare cheats?
The system is riddled with fake carers and cohabiting single mothers. Sickening paying for these wasters.
@Sickof thisshit: what in your opinion is a fake carer
@Sickof thisshit: a single mother can live with another man who’s not childs father .
FG will be getting my unwavering support in the forthcoming election
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