Supporting and recognising 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 and extended.
Issues of taxation are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance. However, I have introduced several improvements to payments from my Department in order to facilitate carers who wish to engage in employment. From 1 June this year, I increased the number of hours a person can engage in employment, self-employment, training or education outside the home and still satisfy the qualifying conditions for payment, from 10 to 15 hours per week.
In addition, in Budget 2006 I increased the length of time for which a person can claim carer's benefit from 65 to 104 weeks. The duration of the associated carer's leave scheme has also been extended to two years.
Following significant progress in Budget 2006, the earnings disregard for a couple is currently set at €580 per week which is just at the level of gross average industrial earnings. In accordance with the new social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, I am committed to expanding, subject to available resources, the income limits for carer's allowance aiming to keep the level of the disregard in line with average industrial earnings.
I am fully aware that co-operation between relevant Government Departments and Agencies is essential if the provision of services, supports and entitlements for carers is to be fully addressed. In January 2005 the Minister for Health and Children and I established a Working Group on Long Term Care which comprises senior officials from both our Departments as well as the Departments of An Taoiseach and Finance and the Health Services Executive. The report of this group is currently being considered by Government.
The Government's commitment to cross-departmental co-operation is further reinforced in the new social partnership agreement 'Towards 2016' which commits my Department to leading the development of a structured consultation process to inform future policy in relation to carers. This will involve an annual meeting of carer's representative groups as well as relevant Department and Agencies.
Another key Government commitment in Towards 2016 is the development of a National Carer's Strategy by the end of 2007. This strategy will focus on supporting informal and family carers in the community and will involve all relevant Departments and Agencies as well as the social partners.
I am committed to working for, and with, carers to deliver increased benefits, supports, and services for them and their families. In that regard, I will continue to review the scope for further developments of the carer's allowance, carer's benefit and respite care grant.