Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
288. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the basic rate of the carer's allowance or provide a special Covid-19 top-up for the duration of the pandemic in view of the additional costs associated with the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied). [30021/20]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
My Department provides income supports to carers such as Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to family carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who, on a full-time basis, look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention, where the carer's income falls below certain limits. At the end of September 2020, there were 88,156 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance. The provisional outturn on Carer’s Allowance for 2020 is estimated at €916 million.
In addition, a carer whose work ceases as a result of COVID-19 and whose situation qualifies them for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, is able to receive that payment along with their current carer income support, whether Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit.
Furthermore, despite the substantial extra financial demands due to the COVID-19 crisis, I announced that the Carer’s Support Grant would continue to be paid to carers this year at an estimated cost of over €230.84 million. The annual grant of €1,700 is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. This grant can be used for any purpose at the discretion of the carer and it is not taxed. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention to someone who requires that level of care are also eligible and can apply for a grant.
At the end of June 2020, almost 127,000 grants were paid to carers receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance and to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments. Applications for the 2020 grant can be submitted up until 31 December 2021, and it is expected that further applications will be received before the closing date.
Apart from these income supports specifically in place for family carers, my Department also provides support under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. The Department may make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. ENPs are administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the Department. ENPs are payable at the discretion of the CWS officer taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
The provision of medical supplies such as PPE is a matter for the HSE and the Department of Health.
The Deputy will be aware that payments made by my Department to carers are set out under legislation. There is no provision to make the type of top-up payment outlined by the Deputy.
Finally, I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the key role carers play in society and the particular challenges they face in light of Covid-19 and I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review. Any improvements or additions to these supports, including rate changes, can only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
