‘Postcode lottery’ hits Cavan carers paying €30 more a week | Anglo Celt

Carers in Cavan can pay around €30 more a week in social housing rent than families in identical circumstances in neighbouring Monaghan, prompting a call for urgent reform of the Differential Rent Scheme by local councillors.

Aontú councillor Adrian Rogers described the disparity as “unfair”, and asked Cavan County Council to fully disregard Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance when calculating social housing rents, while assessing the full allowance at the lowest social welfare rate.

He explained to the September monthly meeting of elected members that in Cavan, both Carer’s Allowance and Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance are partially disregarded, while in Monaghan both are assessed at the basic social welfare rate.

In Cork County Council, both are completely disregarded. “I think we can do better for carers in Cavan,” he told fellow councillors at their September monthly meeting.

Cllr Rogers said the cost-of-living crisis was placing additional pressure on families already facing significant financial and emotional demands, and told the meeting: “The Government must get to grips with this, and fast.”

His motion was backed by Sinn Féin's Stiofán Conaty, who proposed a similar change previously.Cllr Conaty stated that at the time the matter was raised, the response he received was the change “would not make much difference” in the amount saved by tenants. “I'd like to see something done,” he pressed.

Director of Services Lynda McGavigan told the meeting that it was something they “can certainly look at.”

* This article has been published with support from the Local Democracy Scheme