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Grant Payments.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Questions (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)

Seymour Crawford

Question:

52 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who will receive the new €1,000 respite allowance for carers not in receipt of the carer's allowance or carer's benefit; if old age pensioners who act as carers looking after their loved ones will be included; the means he will use to decide on the persons who are eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33476/04]

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Olivia Mitchell

Question:

80 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the employment related conditions and the number of extra persons who will benefit with reference to the recent announcement that the respite care grant will be extended to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or to a person with a disability regardless of means subject to certain employment related conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33499/04]

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Trevor Sargent

Question:

81 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures which have been provided in budget 2005 in relation to carers. [33475/04]

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Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

82 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which the recent changes to the respite care grant will be administered; the persons who will be eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33454/04]

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Bernard Allen

Question:

101 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the new criteria for carers who are eligible to receive the respite grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33495/04]

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Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

177 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of extra carers likely to benefit from the budgetary increases; the average benefit in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33783/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 80 to 82, inclusive, 101 and 177 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.

In the recent budget, I announced a number of improvements in the supports for carers. The carer's allowance and carer's benefit are being significantly increased by €14 a week to €153.60 and €163.70 a week respectively at a total full year cost of €17.2 million.

In response to the joint Oireachtas committee which stated that the greatest need identified by family carers is the need for a break from caring, I have made provision to improve the respite care grant in three ways. First, from June next year, in accordance with the Government's commitment in its programme for Government to introduce significant increases in the value of the respite care grant, I am increasing the amount of the grant from €835 to €1,000 annually.

Second, I am extending the annual respite care grant to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care, subject to employment related conditions. I have asked my officials to consider the operational arrangements that will be necessary to implement this proposal. Subject to detailed consideration, the following categories of persons will be eligible for the respite care grant: recipients of carer's allowance and carer's benefit will continue to receive the grant; recipients of other social welfare payments, for example, widow's pensions, old age pensions, one parent family payment, who are also carers; and carers who are not currently receiving any payment from my Department and who are providing full time care.

The following criteria will probably apply: the carer must be providing full-time care to a person who is in need of such care for a specified period of time — probably six months; as is the case with recipients of carer's allowance, a full-time carer must not be engaged in employment for more than ten hours per week; and those who are on unemployment payments will be excluded since they are required to be available for, and actively seeking, full-time work.

It is estimated that these improvements in the conditions applying to the respite care grant will result in an additional 9,200 full-time carers receiving the grant for the first time, giving an estimated total of almost 33,000 full-time carers receiving the respite care grant of €1,000 next year.

My third improvement to the respite care grant is to pay a grant in respect of each person receiving care. This means that a carer who is providing care for more than two people will receive a grant in respect of each person for whom she or he is caring. Currently, a maximum of two grants is paid. I am doing this to recognise the particular challenges which are faced by carers who are caring for several people.

In relation to the means test for carer's allowance, I am increasing the weekly income disregards by €20 to €270 for a single person and by €40 to €540 for a couple from next April. This means that a couple with two children can earn up to €30,700 and receive the maximum rate of carer's allowance while the same couple can earn up to €49,200 and receive the minimum rate of carer's allowance, free travel, the household benefits package and the respite care grant.

It is estimated that the changes will result in an additional 1,000 new carers qualifying for a carer's allowance, free travel, the household benefits package and the respite care grant. In addition 2,400 existing carers, who are currently in receipt of reduced carer's allowance, will receive an increase in their weekly payment over and above the general rate increase they would receive in the normal way.

With regard to carer's benefit, one of the conditions attached to this scheme is that while the carer may work for up to ten hours per week, he or she may not earn more than €150 per week. I intend to improve this aspect of the scheme by increasing this income ceiling from €150 to €270 per week. This measure, which will take effect from April, will allow those carers who are in a position to work for up to ten hours per week to earn extra income and, equally important, it may keep the carer in touch with his or her workplace.

Another condition attached to that scheme is that the applicant must have been engaged in full-time paid employment as an employed contributor for the three month period immediately prior to claiming carer's benefit. I am abolishing this condition from April to simplify the qualifying conditions for the scheme and make it easier for carers to qualify.

The specific improvements in the respite care grant, carer's allowance and carer's benefit will be implemented in the Social Welfare Bill 2005. 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 provide real support and practical assistance to the people involved.

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