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Respite Care Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2012

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Questions (114)

Finian McGrath

Question:

114. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will stop the cut to the respite care grant as it is affecting the marginalised such as families with a member with a disability. [55836/12]

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Written answers

The Government had to make very difficult decisions in the course of Budget 2013. In order to protect core weekly payments which people receive such as pensions, disability and carer’s allowance we had to look very carefully at other additional payments such as the respite care grant.

The respite care grant is paid to approximately 70,000 people each year, with some 5,000 people in receipt of more than one grant as they care for more than one person. 52,000 people are in receipt of the carer’s allowance and 26,000 in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance (DCA). There are also 1,300 in receipt of carer’s benefit. They receive the respite care grant automatically in June. Persons who are in receipt of both DCA and carer’s allowance receive one respite payment. 5,000 carers not in receipt of a carer’s payment receive the grant.

It is important to note that the revised rate of the respite care grant of €1,375 will still be more than what it was in 2006 when the rate was €1,200. The estimated expenditure on carers in 2012 is over €771 million: €509 million on carer’s allowance, €24 million on carer’s benefit, €135 million on the respite care grant and €103 million on domiciliary care allowance (DCA). This represents an increase of almost €20 million on expenditure in 2011. Carer’s also receive a free travel pass at an annual cost of €6 million and carers who reside with the care recipient are eligible for the household benefits package at an annual cost of approximately €30 million.

Carers receive significant income supports from my Department, among the highest rates of income support in Europe. A person getting certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person can keep their main social welfare payment and get a half-rate carer’s allowance as well. The half-rate carer’s allowance was protected in Budget 2013.

The respite care grant is available to all full-time carers regardless of their means while the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for the maximum rate of carer’s allowance while a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient.

I am aware the reduction in the respite care grant has implications for carers and their families; however, given the enormous pressures on the expenditure of my Department, I am not in a position to reverse this decision.

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