John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this. On behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, I welcome the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the range of entitlements available to carers from the Department of Social Protection. One would imagine, based on the issue raised, that the intelligent approach would be to give the notification such that one would not have to reapply. I will raise that with the Minister.

The existing entitlements include carer's benefit, carer's allowance and the half-rate carer's allowance, which is payable in addition to most other social welfare entitlements. In addition, the Department pays an annual respite care grant in respect of each care recipient, and carer's allowance recipients may be entitled to the household benefit package. In 2012, the Department spent in excess of €670 million on payments to carers, appreciating the key role they play in society.

One of the schemes entails the carer's benefit, a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person or persons in need of full-time care and attention. Carer's benefit is available for a total period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. This may be claimed as a single continuous period or in any number of separate periods up to a total of 104 weeks.

If one is caring for more than one person, one may receive carer's benefit for each care recipient for 104 weeks whether consecutively or concurrently. In common with all social welfare schemes, reviews are carried out on carer's benefit claims as appropriate to ensure recipients remain eligible for the payment. That is related to the Senator's point although it still does not answer her question. It is not the case that carer's benefit claims are routinely reviewed after 12 months. However, carer's benefit will expire after a period of 104 weeks spent caring. Carer's benefit recipients whose benefit is due to expire are written to well in advance of expiry and advised of their options. The personal rate of payment for carer's benefit is €205 a week, plus €29.50 for each qualified child. There is an increase of 50% of the personal rate for those who care for more than one care recipient at the same time. The value of the annual respite care grant is €1,375 in respect of each care recipient. These rates of payments have been maintained in budget 2014.

Carer's leave complements the carer's benefit scheme. The relevant employment legislation ensures that those who are entitled to carer's leave will have their jobs kept open for them for the duration of the leave. Carer's leave from employment may be taken irrespective of whether a person qualifies for a carer's payment from the Department once the person being cared for is in need of full-time care and attention.