The chief executive of the Carers' Association, Mr Eddie Collins-Hughes, is to contest the general election in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency, he has confirmed.
Mr Collins-Hughes confirmed that he had been in discussions with the Labour Party but said that while his dealings with the party had been "very positive" he had decided to run as an independent.
He said he will campaign on three main issues: the abolition of the means test for the Carers' Allowance, a reported move at government level to reduce the entitlement to nursing home places and the introduction of a constitutional right to services for people with disabilities.
He is to take leave of absence from the Carers' Association for the duration of the election campaign.
There was an urgent need for reform of the health service to make it serve the people who need its services, he said.
He would be questioning the need for so many health bureaucracies at a time when people needing services were feeling more and more frustrated.
Recent reports had suggested that a move was being contemplated to remove the obligation on health boards to provide nursing home places for people whom they were unable to accommodate themselves.
Such a move would be "disgraceful" especially in the light of the scandal of health board subventions for nursing home care.
He said he would be pressing for a rights-based approach to treatment and services for people with disabilities and their carers.
He believed such an approach would require a constitutional amendment.