Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payment.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

95 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person on unemployment assistance who switches to become a full-time carer for an incapacitated member of the family will lose out significantly in financial terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The carer's allowance, which I introduced in 1990, provided an allowance for the first time direct to people caring for elderly and incapacitated pensioners. Eligibility for the allowance was extended to a much broader range of people than were catered for under the former prescribed relative allowance scheme, including married persons living with their spouse. In 1991 I extended the allowance to persons caring for recipients of disabled person's maintenance allowance.

The rate for the carer's allowance was set at the equivalent of the short term rate of unemployment assistance which was a very significant increase on the rate of prescribed relative allowance. A person providing full-time care and attention would not normally be eligible for unemployment payments. Where people transfer to carer's allowance from another social welfare payment there may be a loss of income depending on the particular circumstances. I am keeping this and other aspects of the scheme under review and any amendments which may be warranted will be considered in the context of the budget.