Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has carried out any analysis of the impact of the respite grant cut in the 2013 budget on the lives of persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3678/14]

Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of this question is to give the Minister an opportunity to make a statement on any analysis of the impact of budget 2013, particularly in respect of the respite care grant. As the Minister is aware, the respite care grant was cut by 19%. I would be grateful if the Minister would give the House a statement regarding any analysis of the impact of this decision on people with disabilities.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The financial supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe. Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years and it is estimated the overall expenditure for 2014 will be €806 million, which is €4.6 million higher than the expected outturn for 2013. This does not include the value of other welfare payments, which more than 24,900 recipients of half-rate carer's allowance also receive. This would bring the amounts involved up to well in excess of €1 billion.

I fully appreciate the important and difficult role carers undertake in this country and that carers need our support. The annual respite care payment is a single lump sum with no requirement to satisfy a means test. There is no equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe. Almost €120 million was spent on the respite care grant in 2013.

In framing budgetary adjustments, the primary concern has been to protect primary social welfare rates. To protect the core weekly payments which people receive, including disability payments, pensions and carer's allowance, the Government in 2013 had to look very carefully at other additional payments, including the respite care grant. One of the main findings of the budget 2013 social impact assessments was that the principal welfare and direct tax measures in that budget did not lead to any significant change in the at-risk-of-poverty rate. This confirms the continuing strong poverty reduction effect of social transfers during a period of very difficult fiscal consolidation.

Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2012, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources described the 19% cut in the respite care grant as modest. Does the Minister for Social Protection agree with the position of the Carers Association that every euro spent on the respite care grant saves the State €5 in institutional care? Subsequent to the 19% cut, the Minister gave a commitment in the Seanad that she would review innovative ways of redressing the 19% cut. The purpose of this question is to establish whether the Minister has set work in progress to understand the impact of the 19% cut in the respite care grant on people with disabilities and families caring for them and to ask her to fulfil the commitment she gave in the Seanad subsequent to the budget to carry out this analysis of the 19% cut, which was described as modest by her colleague.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am sure the Deputy knows, and I think spoke about, the fact that the most grievous change relating to carers was the reduction of €16.40 per week in disability payments and other payments related to people who may have been looked after by carers, which reduction was introduced by the Deputy's new party, Fianna Fáil. That would be the strongest communication to me from carers, which is why when I became Minister, I made a choice to prioritise the core weekly payment because carers depend on that.

As most Deputies know, when I became Minister there was a significant backlog, which had understandably built up under the previous Government, given the significant increase in the numbers claiming unemployment and jobseekers' payments. There was a large backlog in applications for carer's allowance, domiciliary care allowance and disability payments. I have prioritised removing these backlogs and am happy to report that there are significantly more people in receipt of carer's allowance, which is their highest priority, than there were when we entered into office.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I must call Deputy Keaveney. I will revert to the Minister.

Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Subsequent to the decision made-----

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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This is the second time, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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-----in budget 2013, the Minister gave a commitment to review the situation and explore innovative ways of addressing the shortfall in the 19% cut, which was described by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, as modest. I suspect that, after a certain duration in government, mission creep or groupthink establishes itself, particularly in the Cabinet. The Minister, Deputy Burton's comments are alien to the fact that many of her backbenchers are meeting in their constituencies families who have been affected by financial worries, hidden costs that we have discovered in recent budgets and increased electricity, fuel and medical costs. The cut in the respite grant has been the most targeted, affecting the most vulnerable people.

In the Seanad, the Minister committed to establishing the impact on the lives of people who have disabilities or who depend on carers. Will she share with this House details of that analysis, assuming any was done?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy, but we are over time.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I would be happy to do so. A number of issues have arisen, the first and most important of which has been the inherited backlog in applications for the domiciliary care allowance. Approximately 40% of those who receive that allowance go on to claim either a full-time or half-rate carer's allowance. The second issue is the backlog in applications for carer's allowance and delays in the disability and invalidity pensions.

After I became Minister, I told the House at length that we would invest in new IT systems to upgrade the platforms for these important allowances. I am happy to say that we have done so. Consequently, and as the statistics will show the Deputy, the number of people in receipt of carer's allowance and half-rate carer's allowance has increased significantly. In addition to the respite grant, people also get the benefit of the household benefits package-----

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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It used to be more.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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-----and the free travel pass, which are important supports.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister, but we must move on to the next question. Please conclude.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Let her answer the question.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In difficult economic times, we have what is probably the best package of supports for carers in Europe, including income support and the travel pass. We have been able to maintain this position whereas the Deputy's current party cut the weekly carer's rate by €16.40.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Why did the Government not restore it?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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This is the cut that received the most complaints in the feedback.

Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has spent more on consultants at Irish Water.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputies, please.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Deputy Keaveney asked me about the feedback.

Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I asked about the analysis.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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This is what is most mentioned to me in the feedback.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We must continue. Deputy Higgins's question is next.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I had my hand up.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I know, but we have only six minutes. We have gone two minutes-----

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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This is the second time this week the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has stopped me from contributing.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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If there is one question, there are only six minutes. I am sorry.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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We were not here yesterday.