Kathleen Reilly and four of her husband’s family members in Athlone had a total of €366,000 in “undeclared” earnings and a €30,000 collection of designer clothes.

TDs debated a Social Democrats' motion earlier on Wednesday, calling for the means test for the Carer's Allowance payment to be removed

‘I called Charlotte this morning because she was absolutely owed an apology from me,’ he said

The woman told the Taoiseach that carers felt ignored and that the Government had done ‘nothing’ for them.

The Social Democrats are supporting a Sinn Féin motion in the Dáil, which calls for the limits around the allowance to be scrapped.

Inclusion Ireland chief executive Derval McDonagh said the budget abandoned disabled people living well below the poverty line