Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children if he will provide each carer of an elderly or terminally ill relative a minimum of four hours per week of respite care to allow him or her a break from caring duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10845/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services. Home help, home care grant and other community services are a matter for the HSE, depending on the assessed circumstances of each individual case. There are no plans to introduce a general four hour per week respite break for carers.

I understand from my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, who has responsibility for carers allowances, that persons in receipt of carer's allowance receive an annual respite care grant in recognition of the importance of respite services to carers. This grant is also payable with carer's benefit. Provision was made in the 2005 budget for three improvements to the respite care grant scheme. These are: the extension of the respite care grant, which is currently paid only to those who qualify for carer's allowance and carer's benefit, to all carers who are providing full time care to a person who needs such care from June 2005; an increase in the amount of the respite care grant from €835 to €1,000; and a respite care grant in respect of each care recipient for those full time carers who provide care for three or more people whereas at present a double respite care grant is paid to those who are caring for two or more people.