Peadar Tóibín
Question:111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending to 19.5 hours the number of hours a recipient of carer's allowance can work outside the home. [49846/12]
View answerTuesday, 13 November 2012
Questions (111)
Written answers
A fundamental qualification condition for carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit and the respite care grant is that the applicant provide full time care and attention to a person who needs such care. To support their social inclusion and continued attachment to the work force, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full time care. From June 2006, the number of hours a person can engage in employment, self-employment, training or education outside the home and still satisfy the qualifying conditions, was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week.
There are no plans at present for a further increase in the hours as this could have a negative impact on the person in need of full time care and attention. The Department will continue to support carers and the people they care for within the resources available as set out in Government’s National Carers’ Strategy.