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.