Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 3

Written Answers. - Home Help Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

47 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the best current estimate of the number of people providing care on a full time or part time basis; the numbers currently in receipt of carer's allowance; and if there are any plans to recognise the contributions and efforts of those who are not in receipt of any payment. [5639/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

51 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has examined the logistics of extending the carer's allowance to cater for an increased number of carers, having regard to the fact that the number of carers is vastly in excess of the number who are receiving payment; if he will make available the necessary funding for an expansion of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5564/01]

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

61 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will reconsider his decision not to introduce a cost of caring payment in budget 2001; and the current cost of such a payment if it was introduced at £25 a week or £50 a week. [5742/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

335 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the total number of carers currently in receipt of carers allowance; the estimated total number of carers excluding those in receipt of the allowance at present; the estimated cost of extending the allowance to everybody who is a carer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6016/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

336 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will give consideration to extend the carers allowance to a wider group with the objective of doubling the number of eligible applicants for the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6017/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 51, 61, 77, 335 and 336 together.

The review of the carer's allowance, which was published in October 1998, noted that it is difficult to estimate the number of full-time carers in the country. While care groups have stated this figure to be around 120,000 carers, they have provided no supporting basis for this figure. The high number may be due to their definition of carer, whereby someone visiting or assisting an older person may consider themselves to be a carer.

It must be borne in mind that the purpose of the carer's allowance is to support carers who are providing full-time care and attention for persons who are medically assessed as having such a serious disability that they require care for at least 12 months. Based on the research carried out in the review, the number of full-time carers is estimated to be 50,000 people, covering carers of older people and adults and children with disabilities.

At the end of January 2001, there were 16,699 carers in receipt of carer's allowance. These figures show that 33 per cent of full-time carers are in receipt of carer's allowance, which is an increase of 81% in the number of carers in receipt of the allowance since the Government took office. This large increase is reflected in the expenditure on carer's allowance, which was £36.5 million in 1997 and is projected to be £108.4 million this year, representing an increase of almost 200%.

In the 2001 budget, in addition to substantial rate increases, I also announced a number of other measures to support carers. In particular, I made provision for a substantial increase from April 2001 in the income disregards in the carer's allowance means test from £75 to £125 for a single person and from £150 to £250 for a couple. It is estimated that this will enable more than 5,000 new carers to qualify for carer's allowance and almost 3,000 existing carers to receive an increased payment.

The effect of this increase will ensure that a couple with two children, earning a joint income in the region of £15,100, will qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance while a couple in receipt of £26,000 will qualify for the minimum carer's allowance, plus the free schemes and respite care grant.

The means test applied to the carer's allowance is one of the more flexible tests in terms of the assessment of household incomes. The income disregards I have introduced already exceed the income limits for the minimum wage rate for joint income households and ensure that carers receive a maximum allowance. It is estimated that in the region of £180 million would be required per annum to abolish the means test and pay the basic maximum rate carer's allowance to the estimated 33,000 carers who are not in receipt of a carer's allowance. In view of the many supports required by carers, particularly in the community care and respite care areas, I do not consider that abolition of the means test to be the best way to support carers or the best use of resources but, of course, I will keep the issue under review.

The review of the carer's allowance examined the issue of a "cost of care allowance" and considered it to be within the remit of the Department of Health and Children. The estimated cost of introducing a weekly universal cost of care allowance of £50 would be in the region of £130 million annually, based on the current estimate of full-time carers of 50,000. The cost of care allowance of £25 per week would be in the region of £65 million annually. The review also addressed the issues of differing care needs and it proposed the introduction of a non-means tested continual care payment to recognise carers providing the highest levels of care and to promote care in the community. It envisaged that this payment would be made, irrespective of income or social welfare entitlement, to carers caring for those who are in the highest category of dependency.

To differentiate between the levels of care and care needs, the review considered that a needs assessment encompassing both the needs of the care recipient and the carer should be introduced, and that the "continual care" payment could be introduced following the introduction of such an assessment. It was considered that a needs assessment would separate care needs from income support needs and could be used by all State organisations which provide reliefs or grants to those in need of care.

Establishing a pilot system of needs assessment for carers and people needing care was identified as a priority in the Government's review of its Action Programme. This area is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children. In the 2000 budget I announced the introduction of the new carer's benefit scheme to further support carers. This scheme became effective on 26 October 2000 and there are now 87 claims in payment. The carer's benefit scheme provides financial support for 15 months to a person who gives up employment to care full-time. As it is based on a person's PRSI contributions there is no means test. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for labour affairs, Deputy T. Kitt, is bringing forward carer's leave legislation to protect the employment rights of the carer during that 15 month period.

In the review of An Action Programme for the Millennium, the Government pledged to put in place a co-ordinated approach addressing the needs of carers. One of the key priorities we set was to develop a partnership model to facilitate the development by the State, in conjunction with the private sector, of an improved system for meeting long-term care costs. To this end, I have initiated a consultancy study on the future financing of long-term care. The study is examining the strategic issues involved and involves an assessment of alternative financing and funding approaches and their feasibility in the Irish context. The study, which also involves the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Finance, will encompass the financing of personal long-term care needs both in the community and in institutional care and the potential of the private sector or a combined public/private sector approach to develop new initiatives in this area. I look forward to the completion of this study by the middle of the year.

The development of the range of supports for carers will continue to be a priority for the Government and, building on the foundations now in place, we will continue to develop the types of services which recognise the value of the caring ethos and which provide real support and practical assistance to people who devote their time to improving the quality of life for others.