Vital supports for carers must not be sacrificed in the Budget, with pressures on families set to increase with an aging population.

A group representing many of the State's 161,000 family carers yesterday called on the Government to implement its proposals to address the "serious lack of supports" for those minding others in their home. The Carers Association said some of its suggested measures could be achieved on a "cost-neutral" basis -- by pooling existing resources.

Pressures on carers are expected to rise with the numbers aged over 65 due to jump by 80pc to 800,000 by 2025.

According to Catherine Cox of the Carers Association: "Many carers are already very vulnerable, some are living on the poverty line."Many carers were angered by the decision not to publish the National Carers Strategy.

Meanwhile, children's charity Barnardos called for any tax increases to target those on higher incomes. Chief executive Fergus Finlay said it was "unacceptable" that children living in consistent poverty should pay for the economic downturn when they "benefited so little from the 'Celtic Tiger'."

Barnardos urged the Government to avoid taxing child benefit allowances.