Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

My question also relates to the introduction of the half rate carer's allowance. This change was announced in the budget but is only being brought in this week. The Minister stated that we have come a long way in a short period. I have raised the anomaly of people on other social welfare payments who do not qualify for carer's allowance in respect of each of the past eight budgets. I possess records which support my claim in this regard. A half rate carer's allowance will finally be provided to some categories of people in receipt of certain other social welfare payments later this week.

Is it the Minister's view that people in receipt of, for example, widow's pension are not full-time carers and are not as good at what they do as other carers? While I welcome the introduction of the half rate carer's allowance, I am disappointed that people who provide full-time care for doubly incontinent, bed-ridden patients in their own homes will only qualify for this rate. Will the Minister consider eliminating this anomaly in order that those to whom I refer might qualify for the full carer's allowance? Under the means test, the income requirement relating to a couple is €36,000. However, a person in receipt of widow's pension is only paid €10,000 per year. This falls well below the means test requirement relating to other categories.

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