Michael Ring
Question:130 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the new respite grant for carers will be extended to include persons who work more than ten hours outside the home. [15888/05]
View answerThursday, 12 May 2005
Questions (138)
Written answers
The conditions for receipt of the extended respite care grant are set out in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2005. The following conditions will apply: the carer must be providing full-time care to a person who is in need of such care; as is the case with recipients of carers 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.
I am committed to continuing to expand and increase the benefits and supports available to carers. By increasing the respite care grant to €1,000 and significantly expanding it to include thousands more recipients, we are going some of the way towards giving carers a badly needed break and also recognition for their commitment and compassion.
I am keeping all support schemes for carers under review and further possible improvements will be considered in a budgetary context.
Question No. 131 answered with QuestionNo. 26.
Question No. 132 answered with QuestionNo. 34.
Question No. 133 answered with QuestionNo. 16.