I propose to take Questions Nos. 445, 447 and 480 together.
Supporting and recognising carers in our society is, and 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.
Carer's allowance, in line with other social assistance schemes, is means tested. This ensures scarce resources are directed at those in greatest need. The primary objective of the carer's allowance is to provide income support to low income carers. The carer's allowance means test is one of the more flexible tests in terms of the assessment of household incomes. It has been significantly eased over the years, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings.
Increases to the carer's allowance income disregard provided for in Budget 2008 mean that since April, a single person can have an income of €332.50 per week and a couple can have an income of up to €665 per week and still qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance. The previous levels were €320 and €640 per week respectively.
This ensures that a couple can have an income in the region of €37,200 per year and still qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance a s well as the associated free travel, household benefits package and the respite care grant. This increase surpasses the Towards 2016 commitment to ensuring that those on average earnings can qualify for carer's allowance.
In Budget 2009 I increased the rate of carer's allowance for those aged 66 or over by €7 per week to €239 per week and the rate of carer's allowance for those aged under 66 by €6.50 from €214 to €220.50 per week. In addition, I increased the rate of carer's benefit by €6.50 from €214.70 to €221.20 per week. These increases will take effect from January 2009.
One of the fundamental qualifying conditions for carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant is that the person be providing full-time care and attention to a person who needs such care.
Since the introduction of the carer's allowance scheme this full time care and attention requirement has been eased in order to facilitate carers in engaging in employment, education or training.
The number of hours a person may engage in employment, self employment, training or education outside the home and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week in June 2006.
A carer who is caring for more than one person may be entitled to receive a rate equivalent to 150% of the carer's allowance. From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full time care to a person who needs such care, regardless of their income. Since then a grant is paid in respect of each care recipient. A carer who is caring for two or more persons is entitled to a full grant for each of the care recipients. From June 2008, the rate of the grant was increased to €1,700 per year.
There are no plans to increase the number of hours for which people can engage in employment, outside the home and still be eligible for carer's payments from the Department. Changes to the rate of Carers Benefit or Carers Allowance would have to be considered in a budgetary context.