Vol. 562 No. 2
241 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will take steps to amend the legislation or regulations which prohibit widows and widowers who are receiving a social welfare pension, from receiving the respite care allowance and looking after their mentally handicapped children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5713/03]
The respite care grant is paid to carers who are in receipt of a carer's allowance and to carers who are caring for recipients of a constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is a contribution towards respite care to be used as the recipients wish. It is not payable with other social welfare payments. However, a person with an entitlement to more than one social welfare payments will always receive the payment most beneficial to him or her.
All other matters relating to the provision and availability of respite care are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children. The Health Strategy, which was published by the Department of Health and Children at the end of 2001, commits the Government to reforming the current arrangements, including the carer's allowance, in order to introduce an integrated care subvention scheme which maximises support for home care.
The strategy also contains a number of other proposals, one of which relates to respite care. A number of Departments are involved in progressing these and other initiatives for carers and those for whom they care.
Further improvements to the carer's allowance scheme could only be considered in a budgetary context in the light of available resources. However, the development of the range of supports for carers will continue to be a priority for this Government and, building on the foundations now in place, we will continue to develop the types of services which recognise the value of the caring ethos and which provide real support and practical assistance to people who devote their time to improving the quality of life for others.
