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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2004

Tuesday, 16 November 2004

Questions (148, 149, 150, 151)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

204 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of family carers receiving carers allowance; the amount of expenditure associated with same; the number of family carers not receiving carers allowance, but who are caring full time or part-time for cared for persons; if there are plans to pursue a national strategy for family carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28530/04]

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Written answers

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. The analysis of this portion of the Census found that 40,500 people provide 43 hours or more unpaid personal help per week, or more than six hours per day; 8,000 people provide 29-42 hours unpaid personal help per week, or between four and six hours per day; 15,400 people provide 15-28 hours unpaid personal help per week, or between two and four hours per day and 84,900 people provide one to 14 hours unpaid personal help per week, or up to two hours per day. There are currently more than 23,500 carers in receipt of carer's allowance or carer's benefit.

This means that almost 50% of the 48,500 carers, as estimated by the CSO to be caring for more than 4 hours per day, are in receipt of a specific carer's payment from my Department. People providing lower levels of care would not necessarily meet all the qualifying conditions for receipt of a carer's allowance. The 2004 estimate provides for expenditure of more than €203.8 million on the carer's allowance scheme and €8.5 million on the carer's benefit scheme. This represents a combined increase of more than 11.6% on last year's expenditure on carer's payments.

I am aware of the carers association's call for a national strategy for family carers. The Government will continue to develop services to recognise the value of caring and to provide real support and practical assistance to the people involved.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

205 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a mother claiming benefit cannot claim for her children based on her own insurance if her husband is earning more than €300 a week. [28534/04]

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Child dependant allowance is an additional weekly payment made to social welfare recipients in respect of each qualified child dependant. A full CDA rate of €16.80 is payable to recipients of unemployment or disability benefit together with a qualified adult allowance where the spouse's gross weekly earnings do not exceed €210. Where earnings exceed €210 the full rate is no longer payable. In relation to CDA the rule was that where earnings exceed €210 half rate CDA was payable and this rate continued to be payable regardless of the earnings of the spouse. The change introduced earlier this year was that CDA would no longer be payable where earnings exceed €300 a week.

This measure was one of a number announced at the time of the publication of the 2004 Estimates to better target resources within the social welfare code. The measures in question are currently under review.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

206 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the maximum rent allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the usual rent payable to such tenants in cases in which the sole income derives from social welfare; if the previous and current rent supplement takes account of the fact that the tenant cares for her grandchild; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28597/04]

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The South Western Area Health Board has advised that the person concerned is currently in receipt of a monthly rent supplement of €366.50. This is the maximum amount payable in her circumstances. This rate, and that paid to her previously, takes account of the fact that she cares for her grandson.

There is no standard rate of rent supplement payable to a person whose sole source of income is a social welfare payment. The amount of the social welfare payment has a bearing on the amount of rent supplement payable, as do other factors. The amount of rent supplement payable in any given case depends on the level of rent being paid, the household composition and the level of household income. As one or all of these factors can vary from case to case, different amounts of rent supplement are payable depending on the individual circumstances involved.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

207 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this applicant has previously been refused one parent family income allowance which in turn has forced them to live in unsatisfactory circumstances and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28598/04]

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The South Western Area Health Board has advised that the person concerned made inquiries regarding rent supplement at her local health centre. She has not, however, made a formal application for rent supplement.

She was referred to her local housing authority to be assessed in respect of her accommodation needs as she was neither on the housing list nor an existing private sector tenant for six months or more. The board understands that the local authority has deemed her not to be in need of accommodation. One-parent family payment to the person concerned was terminated in 2003 on the grounds that she had failed to fully disclose her means. She has re-applied to my Department recently for one-parent family payment. On completion of the necessary inquiries a decision will be made on this claim and she will be notified of the outcome.

Under social welfare legislation, decisions on claims are made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in making such decisions.

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