Care Alliance uses cookies to give you the best experience on our websites. By using this site you agree to our use of cookies as described in this Privacy Policy. Click here to remove this message.

Care Alliance

Care Alliance Homepage

'Guiding support for family carers'

Impact

Our organisation has been proud to contribute to the following impacts for family carers in recent years:

  • In 2025, we secured the largest ever increases (60%) in eligibility for income supports (through higher income disregards, from June 2026) and higher levels of income support (Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Grant) – and a commitment to the abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance within the lifetime of this new government. Expenditure on income supports for carers now represents nearly 8% of overall Department of Social Protection expenditure, a doubling over 15 years.

 

  • In 2025, we reached approximately 2,400 (24%) more family carers compared to 2024, with a total of over 10,954 participating in our Online Family Carer Support Project – thus contributing to a reduction in their level of social isolation.

 

  • Our employment-focused project in 2025 continued to demonstrate an impressive positive impact across several domains including participants’ employment opportunities, employment skills/employability, and overall wellbeing. At year end 70 family carers were actively involved

 

  • Since 2021, 59 participants from our employment-ready projects have returned to paid employment. Approximately 132 participants have pursued further education.

 

  • Our primary research (2016, 2018, 2025) and ongoing representations (through the Home Care Coalition) on home care have helped to achieve an increase in the provision of publicly funded home care support/PA (a near doubling in hours delivered since 2012). This a vital lifeline for family carers and those for whom they care.

 

  • We secured significantly more references to Health and Social Care in the new national eHealth Strategy. This is expected to result in a less narrow, medically-focused and more holistic/social care/community-focused policy/plan.

 

  • Our work in facilitating our Family Carer Research Group has nurtured and progressed a more cohesive and impactful family carer research community across the country. New membership has brought a greater sense of solidarity and peer support. Membership of this research group now stands at 71.

 

  • Our coordination of Carers Week annually raises societal awareness of the contribution made by Ireland’s 600,000+ family carers; through this, many family carers feel more included in their communities.

Read some testimonies from our members and other stakeholders.