Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 March 2006

Other Questions.

Social Welfare Benefits.

3:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 60: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of carers who currently receive the carer's allowance; the number of carers; the cost of abolishing the means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10940/06]

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 76: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date with regard to the recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, the position of full-time carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11014/06]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 113: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date in his consideration of those recommendations of the NESF report on care for older people for which his Department has responsibility and in particular the recommendation of a broadly based group to develop a national strategy for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11001/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 188: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of relatives currently caring for elderly family members; the number caring for family members with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11336/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 189: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of carers in receipt of carer's allowance; the number of persons caring for relatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11337/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 190: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he expects to acknowledge the existence of all carers by way of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11338/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 76, 113 and 188 to 190, inclusive, together.

According to the census for 2002, there are 48,500 people providing personal care for more than four hours per day. More than 26,200 of these are in receipt of either carer's allowance or carer's benefit. This means that 54% of carers are in receipt of a specific carer's payment from my Department. The information requested by the Deputy pertaining to the care recipient is not readily available either from Central Statistics Office data or the records of my Department.

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 been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been 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.

In line with other social assistance schemes, a means test is applied to the carer's allowance to ensure that limited resources are directed to those in greatest need. This means test has been eased significantly over the years, most notably with the introduction of the disregards of spouses' earnings. Following the budget, from April 2006, a couple with two children can earn up to €32,925 per annum and still receive the maximum rate of carer's allowance. The same couple will be able to earn up to €54,400 and receive the minimum rate of carer's allowance as well as free travel, the household benefits package and respite care grant.

Complete abolition of the means test would cost an estimated €140 million in a full year. I continue to keep an open mind on this issue but I think it is debatable whether such a proposal could be considered to be the best use of resources. The view of some support organisations is that if this level of resources were available, it would be more beneficial to carers if it were invested in further increases to carers allowance and in the type of community care services which would support them in their caring role, such as additional respite care facilities, more home helps, public health nurses and other such services.

I have examined closely the Oireachtas joint committee's report, entitled The Position of Full-Time Carers, which was published in November 2003. This valuable report makes a range of recommendations, many of which relate to my Department and a number of which concern the Department of Health and Children.

In response to the committee, which stated that the greatest need identified by family carers is the need for a break from caring, I have improved and extended the respite care grant in the following ways. Provision was made in 2005 for the extension of the grant to all carers who provide full-time care to a person who needs such care regardless of their means. The grant is now being paid in respect of each person receiving care. Most recently, in the budget, provision was made to increase the amount of the respite care grant from €1,000 to €1,200 from June 2006. To date, more than 34,000 respite care grants have been paid in respect of 2005 and applications for the grant continue to be received.

The Oireachtas joint committee's report also recommends the development of a national strategy for family carers, as does the report of the National Economic and Social Forum, entitled Care for Older People. The Carers Association published a strategy document entitled Towards a Family Carer's Strategy. This is a focused document with clear objectives and actions covering a range of areas and Departments. The issues raised in the NESF's report and in the Carers Association's strategy were included in the deliberations of the long-term care working group.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The report of this working group, which was chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, is being considered fully by the Government. However, work has already commenced in implementing the recommendations of this report with the announcement in the budget for 2006 by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children of €150 million in funding for 2006-07 for home support packages and other community-based services.

The report also influenced the social welfare budget package, in which I announced significant improvements in supports for carers. These improvements include the largest ever increases in the rates of payment to carers. The rate of carer's allowance increased by €26.40 to €180 per week for a carer under age 66. The rate for carers over 66 increased by €30.20 to €200 per week, making it the largest single welfare support payment. The rate of carer's benefit increased by €17 to €180.70 per week. These represent increases of over 17% for recipients of the carer's allowance and serve to acknowledge and support the invaluable work of our family carers.

In addition, from June this year, I am increasing the number of hours that a carer may work and still receive a carer's allowance, carer's benefit or respite care grant from ten to 15 hours per week. I am also extending the duration of the carer's benefit scheme from 15 months to two years. The duration of the associated carer's leave scheme will also be extended to two years.

I am always prepared to consider changes to existing arrangements where these are for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available to me. I will continue to review the issues raised by the Oireachtas joint committee and other bodies representing carers and I will continue to strive to bring forward proposals that recognise the valued and valuable contribution of carers in a tangible way.