Around 200 family carers are taking part in another protest outside Leinster House over budget cuts.

It was announced last week that their Respite Care Grant is be reduced by 19% or more than €300.

For the second time since the budget details were revealed in the Dail last Wednesday family carers have taken to the street outside Leinster House to protest.

The €3.5 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts included a decrease in the Respite Care Grant which is to fall by €325 from €1,700 a year to €1,375.

Taoiseach rules out reversing cut

The Taoiseach says he understands the difficulties of those suffering the cut in the respite care grant but has again declared there will be no u-turn. 

Enda Kenny has come under fire in the Dáil from both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. 

But he stood firm and insisted there would be no climb-down on the €325 cut.

"It's not a case of 'on a whim' reversing elements of the budget" he said.

"It's been a very difficult budget to put together - it's been trying and is trying for a very many people; we recognise that".

"But we've got to get our country out of the difficulties that it's in" he added.

More than 100 carers also protested last week  to demand a reversal of the €325 cut.

The Carers Association organised the protests and are pledging to continue demonstrating until the government reverses the cut to the payment.