Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
84. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider granting a pro-rata respite payment to carers whose role concludes before the completion of a twelve month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33449/14]
View answerThe Respite Care Grant (RCG) is an annual payment of €1,375 for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the period of full-time care and attention must last for at least six months (which must include the first Thursday in June, when the payment is made automatically to recipients of carer’s allowance/benefit and domiciliary care allowance). I think this condition is reasonable and I have no plans to make any changes in this regard.
I would point out that in the case of bereavement the Department already recognises the financial difficulties arising at this time for carers as payment of carer's benefit/ allowance continues to be made for a period of 6 weeks after the date of death of the care recipient.
I am pleased to confirm that payment of the RCG for 2014 commenced in June, with automatic payments issuing to over 70,000 DSP clients earlier this month at an estimated cost of €122 million for the full year in 2014. Of course, there is no conditionality attached to how the RCG is utilised, so carers can use the grant as they wish.
I should also mention that the RCG, with no requirement to satisfy a means test, is not available for any other social welfare group nor indeed is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe.
Expenditure on income supports for carers generally has increased from €773m in 2012 to an estimated €806m in 2014, €557 million on carer’s allowance, €21.5 million on carer’s benefit, €122 million on the respite care grant and €105 on domiciliary care allowance.
The number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance over the past decade has also increased from 23,000 to over 57,000
