Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I am taking the debate on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection. If the Deputy gives me the details of the case of woman she referred to as Mary, although that is not her real name, I will pass them directly to the Minister and ask him to have it investigated.

On the broader issue of the difficulties experienced by carers in accessing funding under the carer's allowance, entitlement to carer's allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance there are, in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and inquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. In certain instances people applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim. This can lead to additional delays in processing their claims.

The most recent processing figures available - May 2010 - indicate that almost 80% of claims for carer's allowance are processed within 12 weeks. The average time to decide a claim for carer's allowance is eight weeks. This is similar to processing times in 2009. At some 35%, the same level of applications were rejected in both years.

In 2009, 16,574 new claims were received and 5,776 rejected in the year. In 2010 to date, 8,959 new claims have been received and 3,153 rejected, representing a 35% rejection rate. In 2009, some 1,300 appeals were received of which 244, or 19%, were allowed and 570 cases, or almost 44%, were disallowed, 48 cases were partly allowed and 53 cases were withdrawn. If the person supplies additional information with the appeal the case is re-examined by the deciding officer. In 2009, 388 cases were revised on the basis of new information. There are currently 3,608 claims on hands for decision.

At the end of December 2009 there were just more than 48,220 people in receipt of carer's allowance, an increase of approximately 11% on the previous year. Of these some 19,100 are in receipt of half-rate carer's allowance and another social welfare payment. In addition, more than 1,910 people are in receipt of carer's benefit.

The staff and other resources available to the Department are regularly reviewed having regard to the workload arising and other competing demands. The Department monitors available resources against workload on an ongoing basis with a view to ensuring optimum processing times for claims.

The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the contribution made by carers. It was for that reason, that when resources were available, we invested heavily in improving social welfare rates and services for carers.

During the past decade, carer payment rates 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, half-rate carer's allowance and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

People caring for more than one person receive a higher rate of payment, equating to an additional 50% of the maximum personal rate. Recipients with children also receive a qualified child increase in respect of each child.

Following this year's budget, the carer's allowance rate for carers over 66 years of age has not changed and remains at €239. The rate of carer's allowance for someone under 66 years of age is €212.

Since the introduction of the carer's allowance in 1990 payments to carers have been increased and expanded. The carer's allowance was increased in 2007, 2008 and 2009 by 12.1%, 6.5% and 3.3%, respectively. As a result, even with the reduction announced in the last budget for carers under 66 years of age, the weekly rate of payment for the carers allowance is still almost 20% higher this year than in 2006 and more than 147% higher than in 1997.

The means test for carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,200 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €60,400 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel and household benefits package. These levels surpass the Towards 2016 commitment to ensure those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care, regardless of their income. The rate of the respite care grant has also been increased to €1,700 per year in respect of each care recipient since June 2008. The Government will continue to support carers within the resources available.

If the Deputy gives me the details of the case to which she referred, I pass it directly to the Minister responsible, Deputy Ó Cuív.

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