I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 161 and 171 together.
The Respite Care Grant (RCG) forms part of a range of illness, disability and carer supports provided by my Department to people with disabilities and those who care for them. The RCG is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Prescribed Relative’s Allowance. Carers who are not in receipt of one of the above payments but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for the grant to a stand alone RCG section.
This full-time care provision is moderated by permitting the carer to work or engage in education or training for a maximum of 15 hours per week. There is no income limit. The limitation applies to hours of employment/training/education, regardless of income generated by this.
This moderation of the full time care provision represents a reasonable balance between meeting the requirement for providing full-time care for the care recipient and the needs of the carer to engage in employment or education. It also serves the additional purpose of reducing the social alienation experienced by many carers. During this period of employment or education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person. This 15-hour limitation is contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carers Allowance, Carers Benefit and Respite Care Grant schemes, however, it does not apply in the case of the Domiciliary Care Allowance scheme. There are no plans to change the conditionality around the maximum hours at this time. Respite Care is not a means tested payment.