Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2015
24. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that care given by carers for a caree who has died or recovered is recognised by a pro-rata payment of the respite care grant to the former carer prior to the six-month deadline. [33141/15]
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 consider this to be reasonable and in the case of bereavement the Department recognises the financial difficulties arising at this time for carers as payment of carer's benefit/ allowance continues for a period of 6 weeks after the date of death of the care recipient.
This year, RCG was paid to over 70,000 clients in at an estimated cost of over €124 million, and I should point out the grant, with no requirement to satisfy a means test, is not available for any other social welfare group nor is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe.
In relation to income supports for carers generally, expenditure on such supports has increased from €773m in 2012 to an estimated €822m in 2015.
