Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Jul 1997

Vol. 480 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

275 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the justification for the current system of means testing of carer's allowance in view of the fact that there are numerous demands for non-means testing and as children's allowance or benefit are not means tested. [13984/97]

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. D. Ahern)

Benefits payable by my Department can be divided broadly into three categories: contributory social insurance payments which are made on the basis of the person's pay-related social insurance (PRSI) record; non-contributory social assistance payments which are made on the basis of the applicant satisfying a means test and universal services such as child benefit and free travel which do not depend on PRSI or means.

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.

In line with the Government's commitment to improve the position of carers in our society, I will be considering the potential for the further development of the carer's allowance scheme as well as examining the question of developing provisions for carers through the social insurance system in an overall review of provisions for carers which is being carried out in my Department.