Brian O'Shea
Ceist:329 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make carer's allowances available without means test where the medical requirements are satisfied; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Carer's Allowances
The carer's allowance introduced in November 1990 is a means tested payment for persons on low incomes who are living with and providing elderly or incapacitated social welfare pensioners with full-time care attention. From July last year, the allowance was extended to include carers of recipients of disabled person's maintenance allowance.
Further improvements to the scheme involving the relaxation or the abolition of the means test would have considerable cost implications and could only be considered in the light of the available resources. I am undertaking an examination of the present arrangements to see how assistance might be directed more effectively at the needs of carers in the community.