I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 136, 138, 155, 168, 190 and 192 together.
Supporting carers in our society has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced. Under the provisions of the carer's allowance scheme, carers may engage in employment or self-employment for up to ten hours per week. This measure was introduced in recognition of the value such work affords to carers.
It also allows carers to maintain contact with the labour market. The reason for placing a limit on the hours that a recipient of carer's allowance can work is to safeguard the needs of the care recipient and to ensure that they receive the full-time care and attention that they require. The operation of this limit will be kept under review.
The report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee makes a range of recommendations, many of which relate to my Department and a number of which concern the Department of Health and Children. I am always prepared to consider changes to existing arrangements where these would be for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available to me.
One of the recommendations relating to my Department pertains to improvements in the information available to carers. In this regard, funding of €18,000 has been provided to the Carer's Association towards the publication and distribution of a new information pack which will provide information about services and supports for carers and their families. The information pack is currently being compiled by the association and will be distributed throughout the country in libraries, health board offices, clinics, citizen information centres and social welfare offices by the end of the year. It will contain important information to carers on the services and supports available to them and their families.
In addition, my Department is currently finalising plans for a nationwide campaign to increase awareness of carer's benefit and carer's leave arrangements. This is planned to take place during October.
Regarding a national carer's database, the Central Statistics Office included a question in the 2002 census to identify the number of persons providing unpaid personal care for a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problem or disability. In March this year, the CSO published volume 10 of the census results pertaining to data in relation to people with disabilities and carers. This is a most comprehensive document with more than 40 tables of data relating to carers.
Carer's allowance is not paid concurrently with another social welfare payment or by introducing a disregard in respect of that payment on the grounds that, as a general rule, only one social welfare payment is payable to an individual. Persons qualifying for two social welfare payments always receive the higher payment to which they are entitled. The question of an income disregard for carer's allowance would raise similar issues.
The overall number of persons receiving a carer's allowance has increased from 10,126 at the end of 1997 to 22,300 the week ending 24 September 2004. Expenditure on the scheme has in the same period increased from €46.36 million to an estimated €203.8 million in 2004. The number of applications refused payment relative to claims received has declined in recent years arising from various improvements introduced by my Department. My Department has awarded 3,220 applications and refused 2,021 applications this year up to mid-September.
The respite care grant is paid to recipients of carer's allowance, including those who receive a carer's allowance in respect of recipients of a domiciliary care allowance. The Department of Health and Children pays a respite care grant to all other persons for whom a domiciliary care allowance is payable.
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. 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 the people involved.
Proposals relating to increasing rates of payment or other measures involving additional expenditure will be considered in the context of the forthcoming budget. As part of this process my Department is currently undertaking an internal review of the carer's allowance and carer's benefit schemes, taking account of the issues that have been raised in many fora.