Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government published a national carer strategy in 2012 to signal its commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and to respond to their needs across a number of policy areas. The contribution that carers make is critical to our society. The Department, in meeting its commitments under this strategy, provides a range of income supports to assist with the financial burden of caring. These include carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance and respite care grant.

A total of €806 million is provided for these payments in 2014.

Carer's allowance is the main income support. Over the past decade the number of people in receipt of carer's allowance has increased from just over 23,000 in 2004 to close to 57,200 at the end of last May. Nearly 25,000 of these recipients are in receipt of a carer's payment at half rate as they are also in receipt of another social welfare payment. For example, a lone parent who is caring on a full-time basis for an elderly relative can receive €219.80 in one-parent family payment and €102 per week in half-rate carer's allowance. Recipients of carer's allowance also qualify for free travel and, if they are living with the person they are caring for, the household benefits package.

In addition, the respite care grant is an annual non-means-tested payment made to carers by the Department. Full-time carers who are not in receipt of a carer's payment from the Department are also entitled to the grant. In fact, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the annual payment of the respite care grant commenced last Thursday to more than 70,000 carers at an estimated cost of €122 million for the full year in 2014. Carers can use the grant in whatever way they wish.

The Government is committed to ensuring that, in addition to the necessary income supports, carers receive a comprehensive range of services to assist in the caring role. The responsibility for providing respite care services and supports rests with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.

See this speech in context