Vol. 524 No. 1
144 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has had an assessment of the cost of introducing a long-term carer's allowance under the social insurance scheme carried out; his estimate of the number of persons who would qualify; the additional social insurance contribution needed to fund the scheme; and his views on the possibility of adopting such a scheme. [21812/00]
In budget 2000 I announced the introduction of the new carer's benefit scheme. This benefit, which will be of 15 months duration, is specifically intended to support people who must leave the workforce temporarily to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention. It involves two central elements. The first is a weekly income support payment to be operated and paid by my Department. This will be a non-means tested payment based on PRSI contributions paid by the carer. The second is the protection of the carer's employment rights for the duration of the caring period.
My colleague, Deputy Tom Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for labour affairs, is currently drawing up carer's leave legislation to protect the employment rights of the carer.
The maximum duration of carer's benefit is set at 15 months as it is considered that employers would experience difficulties in preserving employee's rights for a longer period. This time period of 15 months will facilitate carers who have to leave the workforce temporarily to care full-time.
In the review of An Action Programme for the Millennium, the Government pledged to put in place a co-ordinated approach addressing the needs of carers. One of the key priorities is to develop a partnership model to facilitate the development, by the State in conjunction with the private sector, of an improved system for meeting long-term care costs.
To this end, one of the remaining proposals arising from the review of the carer's allowance will be examined this year. A consultancy study will be undertaken to examine issues relating to long-term care, both in terms of cost and possible partnership approaches and the possible role of the PRSI system in this regard. This study will examine possible future schemes, the effects on the social insurance fund and estimate the number of people who might qualify. It is expected that this study will commence before the end of the year.
