Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 117, 119, 133, 134, 172 and 569 together.

Supporting and recognising carers in our society is, and has been, a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have 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. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs publication, Report on the Position of Full-Time Carers, which was published in 2003, makes 15 recommendations. Some of these relate specifically to my Department and others relate to the Department of Health and Children.

A key recommendation of the report was that where a person is in receipt of a widow's or widower's pension and is providing someone with full-time care and attention, he or she should be paid a half rate carer's allowance in addition to his or her pension. Budget 2007 introduced fundamental structural reforms in this area which go beyond this recommendation. From tomorrow, people in receipt of certain other social welfare payments, who are also providing full-time care and attention to a person, will retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which will be the equivalent of a half rate carer's allowance. It is estimated this measure will benefit more than 17,000 carers by up to €100 per week at a cost of €56.72 million in a full year.

These new arrangements will apply to people receiving weekly social welfare payments, other than recipients of jobseeker's allowance or benefit or those signing for jobseeker's credits and people in receipt of a qualified adult allowance. This is in line with the arrangements that apply to receipt of the respite care grant. The recommended extension of the respite care grant to people in receipt of a social welfare payment, other than carer's allowance or benefit, who are providing full-time care and attention, was implemented in budget 2005. That improvement went beyond the report's recommendation in that the grant was extended to all full-time carers, regardless of means.

One of the fundamental qualifying conditions for carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant is that the person be providing full-time care and attention to a person who needs such care. The number of hours a person may engage in employment, self-employment, training or education outside the home and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention for the purposes of the schemes was increased from ten to 15 hours per week in June 2006. In budget 2006, the duration of carer's benefit was extended from 15 to 24 months. This is in line with the joint committee's recommendation that the 15-month restriction be waived where the person continues to provide care. Carer's allowance, in line with other social assistance schemes, is means tested. This ensures scarce resources are directed at those in the greatest need. The means test has been significantly eased over the years most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Budget 2007 provided for an income disregard for a couple of €640 per week. This ensures a couple can earn in the region of €36,000 per annum and still receive the maximum rate of carer's allowance and the associated free travel and household benefits. This measure surpasses the Towards 2016 commitment to ensure those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance. In addition, the rates of carer's allowance have been increased to €200 per week for those aged under 66 and to €218 per week for those aged over 66.

The report also recommended the development of a national strategy for carers. One of the key Government commitments in the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, is the development of a national carer's strategy and this commitment is reiterated in the programme for Government. The strategy will focus on supporting informal and family carers in the community. While social welfare supports for carers will clearly be a key issue in the strategy, other issues such as access to respite and other services, education, training and employment will also feature strongly. Co-operation between relevant Departments and agencies is essential if the provision of services, supports and entitlements for carers is to be fully addressed. For that reason all relevant Departments and agencies will be involved in the strategy and there will be appropriate consultation with the social partners. My Department, along with a number of others, is examining how this issue can best be addressed.

The recent improvements in the income supports available from my Department, together with improvements in home care and related services provided by the Minister for Health and Children, represent major improvements in the services and supports available to carers in the community. I will keep the supports for carers available from my Department under review in order to continue to improve the schemes and ensure commitments on income support are delivered.

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