Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 April 2008
91 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the arrangements in place to assist carers to re-engage with the workforce or training or education after the death of the person they are caring for; and the way the income needs of long-term carers are met by his Department in these circumstances. [12200/08]
View answerPersons in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant may engage in employment, self employment, training or education outside the home for up to 15 hours per week and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention for the purposes of the schemes. This enables carers to retain an attachment to the labour market while they are caring if their circumstances allow. Those carers who avail of this facility are likely to remain in the workforce or in education or training when their caring role ceases.
Carer's allowance recipients who have ceased caring duties may be eligible to apply for the back to work allowance or back to education allowance schemes. The back to work allowance scheme enables social welfare customers to return to the workforce in either paid employment or self-employment and retain a proportion of their social welfare payment over a number of years.
The back to education allowance scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for social welfare customers who wish to return to education at either second or third level.
The objective of the scheme is to enhance the employability skills of vulnerable groups who are distant from the labour market. Participants in the scheme receive a standard weekly rate of payment equivalent to the relevant social welfare payment they were in receipt of prior to participation in the scheme.
Budget 2007 provided for significant structural reforms to introduce new arrangements whereby people in receipt of a social welfare payment, other than carer's allowance or benefit, who are also providing someone with full time care and attention, can retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which will be equivalent to a half rate carer's allowance.
Similarly, people currently in receipt of a carer's allowance, who may have an underlying eligibility for another social welfare payment, can transfer to that other payment and continue to receive up to a half rate carer's allowance. The back to education allowance scheme is one of the payments which can be paid in addition to half-rate carer's allowance. Those in receipt of a social welfare payment in addition to a half-rate carer's allowance will continue to be supported by the Department with their primary payment when their caring role has ceased.
My Department addresses the income needs of long-term carers who are no longer in a caring role based on their individual circumstances. Some carers will return to the workforce and will no longer require income support, others may avail of some of the employment or educational supports offered by my Department. Older carers may be in receipt of a state pension from my Department and this payment will continue when caring ceases.
I will keep the supports for carers available from my Department under review in order to continue to improve the schemes and ensure that commitments in relation to income support are delivered.
