Vol. 571 No. 1
967 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if the respite care allowance of ?735 is payable to all recipients of the domiciliary care allowance; and the reason this payment must be applied for by the recipient rather than being issued automatically. [20689/03]
The respite care grant, RCG, was introduced in 1999 for recipients of carer's allowance. In 2000, RCG was extended to recipients of domiciliary care allowance, DCA. In 2001 an increased payment was made where there were two or more eligible persons in a family. The current rate of the RCG is €735 where there is one eligible person in a family or €1,470 where there are two or more eligible persons in a family. RCG is a once-yearly payment, which is paid during the first week in June. The RCG is automatically paid to all recipients of DCA, without application being required. The health boards are responsible for paying the RCG to people in receipt of DCA only. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is responsible for paying the RCG to recipients of both the carer's allowance and DCA and to those in receipt of carer's allowance only.
