The Government's under increasing pressure to reverse the €325 cut to the respite care grant announced in yesterday's Budget.
Labour party backbenchers are hoping to have the measure reversed in the Social Welfare Bill.
Around 70,000 families will be hit with the cut which the Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte told the Dáil was a "modest" cut.
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald said that Minister Pat Rabbitte is clearly out of touch.
"Are you actually that glib? And this isn't a moment for comedy in this chamber," she said.
"I'm putting it to you, that this cut of €325 is wrong. It is indefensible. It's not just unfair, it's indecent.
"And if you've any decency left in you, revise this matter, and tell the carers out there that you will row back on it."