Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2016
373. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2017 of increasing the carer's allowance and benefit, disability allowance and benefit, blind pension and invalidity pension by €7.00, €10.00; €12.00 and €15.00, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20728/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra389. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer of restoring carer's allowance and carer's benefit back up to the 2009 rates of €220.50 and €221; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20841/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra403. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing carer's allowance to the rates paid in 2009 of €220.50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21195/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra404. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing carer's benefit to the rates paid in 2009 of €221; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21196/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 389, 403 and 404 together.
The following table lists the cost of a €7.00, €10.00; €12.00 and €15.00 increase in weekly rates of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit (formerly Disability Benefit), Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension. The costs include a proportionate increase for recipients with qualified adults, where applicable. In the case of Carer’s Allowance, the cost includes rate increases both for those under 66 years of age and those aged 66 and over.
|
Scheme |
Cost of a €7.00 weekly increase €m |
Cost of a €10.00 weekly increase €m |
Cost of a €12.00 weekly increase €m |
Cost of a €15.00 weekly increase €m |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
19.5 |
27.9 |
33.4 |
41.8 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
1.0 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
2.2 |
|
Disability Allowance |
49.0 |
70.0 |
84 |
105.0 |
|
Illness Benefit |
20.2 |
28.9 |
34.7 |
43.4 |
|
Blind Pension |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
22.6 |
32.2 |
38.7 |
48.3 |
The estimated cost of increasing the weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance paid to those who are under 66 years of age to a rate of €220.50 per week is €39.8 million in 2017.
The estimated cost of increasing the weekly rate of Carer’s Benefit to a rate of €221.00 per week is €2.3 million in 2017.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and assume that, where relevant, each increase is implemented from the beginning of January. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017.
