asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the total inadequacy of the dependent relative allowance; and if he will consider increasing the amount of same.
67.
Written Answers. - Dependent Relative Allowance.
66.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the rate of allowance available to a person minding a dependent relative and the corresponding rates of the allowance for each of the years from 1979 to 1989.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos.66 and 67 together.
The prescribed relative allowance is the allowance payable as part of the pension to an incapacitated social welfare pensioner who is being looked after by a prescribed relative. The allowance has been increased each year in line with increases in rates of pensions as they occur and the rate of the allowance in each of the years from 1979 to date is as follows: April 1979, £8.80; October 1979, £9.40; April 1980, £11.75; April 1981, £14.70; October 1981, £15.45; April 1982, £19.30; July 1983, £21.60; July 1984, £23.10; July 1985, £24.60; July 1986, £25.60; July 1987, £26.40; July 1988, £27.20.
The weekly rate will be further increased to £28 from July 1989 in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare Act, 1989. This is the normal annual increase provided for in the budget which is intended to keep the payment ahead of inflation.
I am examining the present social welfare arrangements for persons who are looking after incapacitated pensioners. As a first step in improving those arrangements provision was made in the 1989 Act to enable, under conditions to be prescribed in regulations, the prescribed relative allowance to be paid directly to the carer rather than to the pensioner. The necessary regulations will be made later this year.
The National Pensions Board, who will be reporting to me at the end of 1989 on future pension provision generally, are at present considering the position of pensioners requiring constant care and attention. The whole question of payments for carers will be considered at that stage in the light of the board's findings.