Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

233 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 259 of 21 May 2003 (details supplied), if she will examine the social welfare regulations with a view to awarding respite care grant to full-time carers who qualify for carer's allowance but who are in receipt of only a social welfare payment, contributory or non-contributory, which is paid at a higher rate than the carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14790/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

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 not payable with other social welfare payments. However, a person with an entitlement to more than one social welfare payment will always receive the payment most beneficial to him-her. The person concerned is in receipt of a retirement pension at the maximum rate of €157.30 per week. He also receives a fuel allowance of €12.90 per week during the fuel season and is in receipt of the other free schemes. Overall he is therefore in a financially better position than if he were in receipt of carer's allowance including the respite care grant. All other matters relating to the provision and availability of respite care generally are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

234 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 on disability benefit can obtain assistance towards the cost of taking their mother to Lourdes as they cannot go alone and cannot afford the extra cash. [14952/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

There is no facility under the social welfare system for making payments in respect of the type of expense referred to by the Deputy. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by the health boards on behalf of my Department, provides for exceptional needs payments to be made to assist with essential, once-off expenditure. Expenditure of the kind referred to in the question would not be regarded as appropriate for funding under the scheme.