Vol. 423 No. 5
120 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of school-going children at primary and at post-primary level, in respect of whom grants under the back-to-school clothing and footwear scheme have been paid each year since the introduction of the scheme.
In 1990, approximately 125,000 primary school children, and 60,000 post-primary school children benefited under the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance scheme. In 1991 approximately 141,000 primary school children and 74,000 post-primary school children received assistance under the scheme.
Figures for 1992 are being compiled by the health board and are not yet available.
121 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to further assist those persons who care for elderly relatives at home other than the means-tested carer's allowance already in existence.
The carer's allowance introduced in November 1990 provided, for the first time in this country, a direct payment to a full-time carer on a means-tested basis. It is directed at persons who are providing elderly or incapacitated social welfare pensioners with full-time care and attention and whose income falls below certain limits. From July 1991, the scheme was extended to include carers of recipients of disabled person's maintenance allowance.
The scheme as it stands is directed at people on low income who satisfy the means test. Any extension of the scheme to cover other categories of people providing care, would have major financial implications. The means test for the allowance is, however, being examined in the context of a general review of means-test arrangements within my Department.
