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Carer's Support Grant

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Ceisteanna (865)

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

865. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that received carer’s support grant automatically in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 respectively; the number of persons that were refused and or withdrew their application of carer’s support grant in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 respectively; the additional funding that would be required to increase this grant from €1,700 to €2,000 in the next budget; if she will increase the carer’s support grant from €1,700 to €2,000 in the next budget; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20319/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant.  Combined spending on all these payments to family carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion. 

The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment of €1,700 a year for each care recipient paid in a single lump sum with no requirement to satisfy a means test. The Carer’s Support Grant is payable on the first Thursday in June each year. This is not available for any other group nor is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe. The Grant is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance.  Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for a ‘standalone’ grant.

The statistics available on the number of grants issued include both those who are paid automatically as well as those who apply for the standalone grant.  Statistical data is not available on those who do not qualify for the grant or the reason why they do not qualify.

In 2019 my Department made payments of over 129,000 Carer’s Support Grants totalling €219.54 million. In 2018  almost 120,000 grants were paid to family carers totalling €203.96 million.

At the end of June 2020, almost 127,000 grants were paid to carers receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance and to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments.  The estimated expenditure on the Carer’s Support Grant this year is €237.32 million.

It should be noted that the data for 2020 only covers the grants paid up to the end of June 2020. It is expected that further applications will be received before the closing date. Applications for the 2020 grant can be submitted up until 31 December, 2021.

The estimated additional cost of increasing the Carer’s Support Grant from €1,700 to €2,000 would be of the order of €42m per year.

I will continue to keep the range of supports provided by this Department under review and consultations with carer’s representative groups will continue to ensure that the overall objectives of the carer income support schemes provided are met. However, any changes to the current carer income supports provided by this Department would have implications for overall spending and would need to be addressed in an overall budgetary context.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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