Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Ivor Callely
Question:
97
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the level of public savings in hospitals, nursing homes, housing and social welfare payments that will accrue from an improved carer's allowance scheme; the studies, if any, carried out in this area; if he will commission a study in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6531/99]
The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment to carers on low incomes who live with and look after certain people who need full-time care and attention. At the end of December 1998 there were 11,416 carers in receipt of the carer's allowance at an annual cost of over £45 million.
Following a detailed examination of the review of the carer's allowance report, which was published in October 1998, a range of measures were introduced in the 1999 budget to improve and develop the position of carers. Over 11,500 existing carers will benefit from the measures I have introduced while an additional 3,300 new carers will now qualify for a carer's allowance. This budget package, costing over £18 million, represents a 40 per cent increase on existing expendi ture and is a very considerable addition to the £45 million spent on carers in 1998.
The review estimated that there are approximately 49,000 people in need of full-time care and attention. Of this number, almost 11,500 are in receipt of carer's allowance and this number is expected to increase to almost 15,000 following the package of measures introduced for carers in the budget. In addition, it should be noted that there are other carers in receipt of another social welfare payment from my Department which is of greater benefit to them than a carer's allowance.
The issues raised by the Deputy are for the Department of Health and Children and the Department of the Environment and Local Government. However, the review of the carer's allowance carried out by my Department did note that there is an imbalance between the amount of expenditure on institutional care compared with the amount spent on community care. The evidence put forward in the review suggests that community care can be as costly, if not more costly, than institutional care where a proper and adequate range of services are provided. This is because the medical professionals involved are mainly dealing with people on a one-to-one basis, and it is also the case that many people who are being cared for at home, also spend a certain amount of time in hospitals.
However, from the point of view of the carers, it is acknowledged that they do not view this in the same way, and they regard themselves as providing a service which the State should be providing.
Government policy is strongly in favour of supporting care in the community and enabling people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. However, the State cannot, and would not wish to replace the personal support and care provided within the family and the community. Its primary role is to provide adequate support to carers and to those for whom they are caring, to enable them to remain in their own communities for as long as possible.
The measures I have introduced in the budget clearly indicate my personal commitment and that of the Government to carers, who enable people in need of care to be looked after in their own homes and communities, and the appreciation we must all have for this valuable role in our society. In addition, I should also say that my colleagues the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Environment and Local Government have also brought forward proposals of assistance to carers. The Government is conscious that such a cross-cutting approach is required.
