Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----are actually the most generous in the social welfare system. A couple under 66 years with two children and earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance. Such a couple earning up to €60,000 per year can still qualify for the minimum rate of carer's allowance. The Deputy did not mention that carers who work fewer than 15 hours a week have no means test in regard to the respite care grant. That is why the grant is the only payment made to some people. It is because their income is above the level required for the general means test. I refer to the disregards for carers. For the most part, the individuals in question have a significant income. Nonetheless, the State, in recognition of the care work they do, pays a respite care grant to over 6,000 people in respect of whom there is no means test. That, again, is a very positive feature of the system. The payment next year, at €1,375, will still be significantly higher than that in 2006, at the height of the boom.

Bearing in mind total social welfare expenditure, several Members mentioned fraud. We have launched very significant anti-fraud campaigns in the Department. Some Deputies had a problem with this last night. Through the budget, I am making arrangements to recover overpayments-----

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