Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 19, 41, 46, 49, 68, 72 and 138 together.

Supporting and recognising carers in our society has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

I have examined closely the Joint Committee's Report on the Position of Full-Time Carers, which was published in November 2003. This valuable report makes a range of recommendations, many of which relate to my Department and a number of which concern the Department of Health and Children. In response to the committee, which stated that the greatest need identified by family carers is the need for a break from caring, I made provision to improve and extend the respite care grant as follows. Provision was made in 2005 for the extension of the grant to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care regardless of his or her means. The grant is now being paid in respect of each person receiving care. Most recently in budget 2006, provision was made to increase the amount of the respite care grant from €1,000 to €1,200 from June 2006. To date, over 34,000 respite care grants have been paid by my Department and applications for the grant continue to be received.

The committee's report also recommends the development of a national strategy for family carers, as does the recently published report of the National Economic and Social Forum entitled Care for Older People. The Carers Association published a strategy document entitled Towards a Family Carer's Strategy. This is a focused document with clear objectives and actions covering a range of areas and Departments.

The issues raised in the NESF report and in the carers association's strategy were included in the deliberations of the long-term care working group. The report of this working group is being considered by the Government. However, work has already commenced in implementing the recommendations of this report with the announcement in the budget for 2006 by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children of €150 million in funding for 2006-07 for home support packages and other community-based services.

The report also influenced the social welfare budget package in which I announced significant improvements in supports for carers. These include the largest ever increases in the rates of payment to carers. The rate of carer's allowance increased by €26.40 to €180 per week for a carer under 66 and the rate for carers over age 66 increased by €30.20 to €200 per week, making it the largest single welfare support payment in the State. The rate of carer's benefit increased by €17 to €180.70 per week. These represent increases of more than 17% for recipients of carer's allowance and serve to acknowledge and support the invaluable work of our family carers.

In addition, from June this year, I am increasing the number of hours a carer may work and still receive a carer's allowance, carer's benefit or respite care grant from ten to 15 hours per week. I am also extending the duration of the carer's benefit scheme from 15 months to two years. The duration of the associated carer's leave scheme will also be extended to two years.

In line with the Government commitment to expanding the income limits for the carer's allowance so that all those on average industrial incomes can qualify, I am increasing the weekly income disregards to €290 for a single person and to €580 for a couple from next April. This means that a couple with two children can earn up to €32,925 and receive the maximum rate of carer's allowance while the same couple can earn up to €54,400 and receive the minimum rate of carer's allowance, free travel, the household benefits package of free schemes and the respite care grant.

Carer's allowance is payable from the age of 18. I recognise that special help, advice and support is essential for young carers who care for a parent and, in particular, that services must be put in place to support the household and ensure young carers remain at school. These include the services of home helps, public health nurses and home care packages generally, which are a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. There was a significant increase in the funding for these services in the recent budget.

I am always prepared to consider changes to existing arrangements where these are for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available to me. I will continue to review the issues raised by the Oireachtas joint committee and other bodies representing carers and I will continue to strive to bring forward, in as tangible a way as I can, proposals that recognise the valued and valuable contribution which carers make to the country.

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