Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 26 Oct 2000

Vol. 525 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

130 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will review the current policy which precludes families with a number of special needs children from claiming the annual respite grant of £300 for more than one child; if he will consider the matter in the most positive light in the context of the forthcoming budget having regard to the distress caused to parents of these special children and the relatively small sums involved in putting matters right (details supplied). [23713/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is responsible for paying the respite care grant in cases where a person is in receipt of domiciliary care allowance and carer's allowance or in cases where a person is in receipt of carer's allowance only. The health boards are responsible for paying the respite care grant in cases where a person is in receipt of domiciliary care allowance only. The health board respite care grant is aligned with the criteria used by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs which allows for one respite care grant per carer.

I understand that the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is considering the issue about paying a respite care grant in respect of each eligible person in a family in the context of the forthcoming budget. If further improvements are made by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to the respite care grant criteria my Department would also consider such changes, subject to Department of Finance approval.