Motion

Support for Carers

Motion TitleSupport for Carers

Motion TextThat this Assembly recognises the invaluable contribution of unpaid carers to society, including parents caring for children with additional needs; notes with regret that carers have been badly let down by inadequate social security support, leaving many living in poverty whilst caring for a loved one; further notes that many carers struggle to combine paid work with unpaid care; and calls on the Minister for Communities to introduce a carer’s allowance supplement scheme, as recommended by the Carer Poverty Commission NI, to provide vital financial support to carers across Northern Ireland.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office22/01/2025

Date Selected By Committee28/01/2025

Date of Plenary Debate10/02/2025

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Tabled By

Member Name	Tabled As
Mr Gerry Carroll	MLA - West Belfast

Bills

Outcome/Voting

The Motion, As Amended, Was Carried by Oral Vote

Amendments

Selected Amendments

Number	Tabled Date	Amendment Text
1	06/02/2025	After ‘Northern Ireland’ insert: ‘; and further calls on the Executive to adopt a cross-departmental approach to provide wider support to unpaid carers, including through the provision of paid carer’s leave from work and adequate access to respite services.’

Other Amendments Tabled

Tabled Date	Amendment Text
06/02/2025	Leave out all after ‘unpaid care;’ and insert: ‘acknowledges that the increase in the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit to the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage from April 2025, provided for by the UK Government’s Autumn Budget, does not go far enough; calls on the Minister for Communities to give consideration to proposals recommended by the Carer Poverty Commission NI; and further calls on the Minister work with the Minister of Finance to explore options to provide vital practical and financial support to carers across Northern Ireland’

Tabled Date

Amendment Text

06/02/2025

Leave out all after ‘unpaid care;’ and insert: ‘acknowledges that the increase in the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit to the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage from April 2025, provided for by the UK Government’s Autumn Budget, does not go far enough; calls on the Minister for Communities to give consideration to proposals recommended by the Carer Poverty Commission NI; and further calls on the Minister work with the Minister of Finance to explore options to provide vital practical and financial support to carers across Northern Ireland’

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