Scorecard Finds Government Has Failed to Fully Deliver Any Commitments to Family Carers

Only half of Government pledges to family carers have seen progress, with the rest stalled or going backwards

Wednesday, 29th April 2026: Family Carers Ireland today launched the Family Carer Scorecard 2025, which finds that the Government has failed to fully deliver on any of the 34 commitments made to family carers in the Programme for Government during its first year in office. Assessed by the National Council of Family Carers, a body made up of elected delegates from local carer assemblies across Ireland, the scorecard also finds that four key areas have gone backwards.

Of the 34 commitments examined:

• 0 were achieved
• 2 showed good progress
• 15 showed limited progress
• 13 showed no progress
• 4 were regressive. 

The areas found to have worsened include access to Assessment of Need and specialist therapies, personal assistance hours, and the rollout of personalised budgets.

No progress was recorded on a number of major commitments, including support for family carers looking after more than one person, the introduction of a cost of disability payment, providing alternative respite options, delivering a statutory home care scheme, and reforming the no longer fit for purpose Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme.

The scorecard also found only limited progress on the Carer Guarantee, the Government commitment aimed at ensuring family carers can access a consistent minimum level of support regardless of where they live. No additional funding was allocated in Budget 2026, leaving the annual allocation at €2.6m, even though Family Carers Ireland estimates that €5.6million is needed each year to fully fund it.

While the scorecard recorded good progress in two areas, progress towards abolishing the Carer’s Allowance means test and making special education placements and assessment mandatory for all trainee teachers, these were outweighed by delay and deterioration in other areas that have a direct impact on family carers’ daily lives.

Across Ireland, 624,190 people provide regular essential unpaid care. Yet many continue to face long delays, patchy services and rising costs.

Sharon Foley, CEO, Family Carers Ireland, said: “The clearest message in this scorecard is that family carers have yet to see full delivery on any commitment made to them in the Programme for Government.

“Too many families are still being forced to fight for assessments, therapies, services and school places. When the State does not provide support in time, parents are left with no choice but to pay privately, entrenching a two-tier system based on who can afford to cope. That failure carries a real human cost for children and families, and a far greater long-term cost for the State.

“Family Carers Ireland urges Government to take decisive action in Budget 2027 and live up to the commitments it has made to Ireland’s family carers. Intent alone is not enough. What they need now is delivery, with clear timelines, visible progress and actions that make a tangible difference to their daily lives.”