Terence Flanagan
Question:325. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the carer's allowance payment in the forthcoming budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25502/14]
View answerTuesday, 17 June 2014
Questions (325)
Written answers
The Government published a National Carers' Strategy in 2012 to signal its commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and to respond to their needs, across a number of policy areas.
The Department, in meeting its commitments under this Strategy, provides a range of income supports to assist with the financial burden of caring. These include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Respite Care Grant. €806 million is provided for these payments in 2014.
Carer's Allowance is the main income support. Over the past decade the number of people in receipt of Carer's Allowance has increased from just over 23,000 in 2004 to close to 57,200 at the end of last May. Nearly 25,000 of these recipients are in receipt of a Carer's payment at a half rate as they are also in receipt of another social welfare payment. Recipients of Carer's Allowance also qualify for free travel and, if they are living with the person they are caring for, the household benefits package
In addition, the Respite Care Grant is an annual non means-tested payment made to carers by the Department. Full time carers who are not in receipt of a carer’s payment from the Department are also entitled to the grant. Annual payment of the Respite Care Grant commenced this month to more than 70,000 carers at an estimated cost of €122 million for the full year in 2014. Carers can use the grant in whatever way they wish.
Any increases in the weekly personal rate of carer’s allowance or the level of other supports for carers would have to be considered in a budgetary context.