Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Those are the figures. We have seen an increase of 21% from 2014 to 2016 in the number of people awarded the carer's benefit payment. On the figures the Deputy requested, a substantial number of additional people were awarded benefit in 2014 over the number awarded benefit in 2010. I do not what the percentage increase was but nearly 4,000 more applicants were awarded benefit in 2014 compared to 2010. The Deputy may have individual examples but what he said does not stand up with regard to the figures.

In addition, there appears to be a misconception that this provision in some ways shifted the burden of proof from the Department to the claimant. I think it was Deputy Boyd Barrett who made that point. It has always been the case that the onus has been on the claimant, whether it be for the carer's allowance or any other social welfare payment, to provide the necessary information in support of his or her application in order to prove eligibility. There has been no change in that regard. That point has been raised in the House on numerous occasions, but there is a misconception in that respect. There has been no change.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh also raised the issue in regard to his friend, and Deputy Ryan raised this use as well, with respect to the short-term carer's allowance. The carer's allowance was never intended to provide temporary short-term care, it was always an allowance provided for long-term care. That was the reason it was introduced. Carer's allowance is intended to provide income support to full-time carer's on low incomes to maintain people in the community and to recognise the support and value of the role of carers. The recipient of the care must be likely to require full-time care and attention for a period of 12 months. That was always the case. However, Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Ryan have raised a good point, but that has been the design with regard to the carer's allowance. I take on board what they have said and their experience in this respect. I would have to reflect on that but it would not be part of this Bill because the carer's allowance has always been provided for long-term care, not for short-term care. As to whether the latter would be dealt with under the HSE or within other areas of social protection, there may be some items covering that, and I will consider it further. I would be interested in it, although I have not come across examples of that, but with regard to the examples the Deputies have given, I will consider this further.

With regard to the words "continuous" and "continual", the current wording is unchanged with respect to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act. The wording has not changed.