Brendan Smith
Ceist:56 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to improve the carers allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22260/96]
Written Answers. - Carer's Allowance.
The carer's allowance is a social assistance scheme which provides an income maintenance payment to people who are providing elderly or incapacitated pensioners or certain disabled persons with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below certain limits. At the end of September this year the numbers availing of the scheme has risen to 8,088.
Since its introduction in 1990, the allowance has been improved and expanded progressively over the years. For example, last year the weekly disregard of £100 in respect of the earnings of the carer's spouse was increased to £150 a week and the scheme was further improved with the inclusion of carers who look after the recipients of occupational pensions. In this year's budget, the weekly personal rate of the carer's allowance was increased by £5 to £67.50, which is an 8 per cent increase on last year's rate.
In addition, new regulations have been introduced which change the basis of assessment of means of carers for the purpose of determining entitlement to rent and mortgage interest supplements under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. As a result of these changes, carers who are receiving rent or mortgage interest supplements from the health boards can now benefit by as much as £29 a week. The new regulations also mean that some applicants who previously failed to qualify on the basis of their means are now in a position to qualify for the allowance.
The further development of the carer's allowance is currently being examined in the context of a review of the allowance which is being carried out by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health, having regard to general health care provision in the home for elderly and disabled people requiring care. In this regard, all aspects of the current operation of the carer's allowance are being considered in the light of our experience to date. The findings contained in the recently published reports of the Joint Committee on Women's Rights,A Long-term Support Framework for Female Carers of Older People and People with Disabilities: 1996-2011, and the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities are also being taken into account in this review. Proposals arising from the review would have to be considered in the light of available resources.