Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 1

Written Answers. - Carer's Allowance.

Paul Bradford

Question:

169 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the regulations governing the payment of a carer's allowance in view of the fact that many applicants who are providing daily care and assistance for relatives are refused the allowance on the basis that they are not living with them; if, in view of the frequency of such refusals as illustrated by the response to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, he will amend the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The carer's allowance introduced in November 1990 provided, for the first time, for a direct payment to be made to the carer on a means-tested basis. It is directed at persons who are providing elderly or incapacitated pensioners with full-time care and attention and whose income falls below certain limits. In July 1991 the allowance was extended to recipients of disabled person's maintenance allowance from the health boards and also to recipients of an equivalent social security payment from another EC country or a country which has a bilateral social security agreement with Ireland.

It is a specific condition for receipt of the allowance that the carer must be living with the pensioner or disabled person for whom full-time care and attention is being provided. In the case mentioned by the Deputy, the application was disallowed as the carer was not residing with the pensioner. Any relaxation of the residence condition would have considerable cost implications which could only be considered in the light of available resources.