Vol. 562 No. 1
407 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the circumstances by which respite care grant can be made available when neither carers allowance or benefit, or domicillary care allowance can be accessed; if respite care grant will be made available on its own if circumstances demand, where children are concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5707/03]
The respite care grant (RCG) was introduced in 1999 for recipients of carer's allowance. In 2000, RCG was extended to recipients of domiciliary care allowance (DCA). In 2001 an increased payment was made where there were two or more eligible persons in a family. The current rate of the RCG is €735 where there is one eligible person in a family or €1470 where there are two or more eligible persons in a family. Respite care grant is a once yearly payment, which will be paid during the first week in June 2003. The RCG is automatically paid to all recipients of DCA, without application being required. The health boards are responsible for paying the RCG to people in receipt of DCA only. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is responsible for paying the RCG to recipients of carer's allowance and DCA and to those in receipt of carer's allowance only.
