Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

822 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures he has taken since 1997 to improve the position of carers; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1335/02]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

827 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will amend the provision whereby no carer's allowance payment is made to a person who works for more than 10 hours per week as well as undertaking caring duties; and if he will provide that persons who have certain work commitments along with caring would qualify for the respite grant and other interim supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1435/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 822 and 827 together.

Since this Government took office, I have introduced a range of measures to improve the position of carers. Some of these measures are listed below:

The free travel scheme was extended to carers of people who receive a prescribed relatives or constant attendance allowance from April 1999. The free Travel scheme was extended to carer's allowance recipients from September 1998. Credited PRSI contributions are available to all qualified carers from April 1999. An annual payment, which is made in June each year towards respite care, was introduced in June 1999. A double respite care grant is payable to carers caring for more than one person. The telephone allowance was extended to all qualified carers from August 1999. The residency criteria have been relaxed to allow non-resident carers qualify for the allowance from August 1999. Carer's allowance was extended to all carers caring for someone between the age of 16 and 65, regardless of the source of income of the care recipient. The allowance was also extended to include carers who are caring for a child in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance. These measures were implemented from August 1999.

Qualified carers are no longer required to satisfy "13 paid contribution" rule when claiming disability benefit from April 2000. Carers who have ceased their caring responsibilities are eligible for the back to work scheme from April 1999 and for the back to education allowance scheme from September 2000.

The electricity-gas allowance and free TV licence schemes were extended to all qualified carers from October 2000. The carer's benefit scheme was introduced in October 2000. This is a social insurance payment specifically intended to support people who must leave the workforce to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention.

I also announced a number of significant improvements for carers in the recent budget as follows: carer's allowance rates increased by 10.23, £8.06 for carers aged under 66 and by 12.73, £10.03 for carers aged over 66 from 3 January. Carer's benefit rates also increased by 10.17, £8.01 per week to 132.70, £104.51 from this date. From April 2002, the weekly income disregards in the carer's allowance means test will increase by 32.28, £25.42 to 191, £150.42 for a single person and by 64.57, £50.85 to 382, £300.84 for a couple. In addition, for the third successive year, I have made provision for an increase in the respite care grant by 127, £100.02 to 635, £500.10 and to 1,270, £1,000.21 for carers who are caring for more than one person.

At the end of 2001, there were more than 18,800 carers in receipt of carer's allowance. This is an increase of more than 104% per cent in the number of carers in receipt of the allowance since this Government took office. This large increase is reflected in the expenditure on carer's allowance, which was £36.5 million, 46.3 in 1997 and is estimated to be £101.4 million, 128.7 in 2001, representing an increase of almost 180 per cent. From August 1999 the full-time care and attention requirements were relaxed to introduce greater flexibility into the carer's allowance scheme, while still safeguarding the needs and interests of care recipients. This measure allows carers to work for up to 10 hours per week. This was introduced in recognition of the economic and therapeutic values of work outside the home. It also allows carers to maintain contact with the labour market.

The carer's allowance scheme is designed for full-time carers. Part-time caring situations are not covered by the scheme. The respite care grant and other supports, such as the free schemes, are only paid where there is a carer's allowance in payment and to carers who are caring for recipients of a constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. All other matters relating to respite care are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children.