Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 797: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if consideration was given in the preparation of budget 2006 to the extension of half rate carer's allowance to persons who are undertaking full time caring responsibilities but who are in receipt of a social welfare pension; if estimated costings for the proposal were developed by his Department; and the priority which will be given by his officials to the desirability of such a change. [1459/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to people who are providing certain elderly or incapacitated persons with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit. The primary objective of the social welfare system is to provide income support and, as a general rule, only one weekly social welfare payment is payable to an individual. This ensures that resources are not used to make two income support payments to any one person. Persons qualifying for two social welfare payments always receive the higher payment to which they are entitled.

From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care regardless of their income. Those persons in receipt of other social welfare payments, excluding unemployment assistance and benefit, are entitled to this payment subject to meeting the full time care condition. This arrangement was introduced to acknowledge the needs of carers especially in regard to respite. In the recent budget, provision was made to increase the amount of the respite care grant from €1,000 to €1,200 from June 2006.

According to census 2002, there are more than 48,000 people providing personal care for over four hours per day. More than 25,800 of these are in receipt of either carer's allowance or carer's benefit. It is likely that a proportion of the balance is in receipt of a different social welfare payment, for example an old age pension. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who are in this situation and it is therefore not possible to estimate the cost of the Deputy's proposal.

In addition to the increase in the level of the respite care grant, I also announced a significant increase in the rate of carer's allowance. From the beginning of this month, the rate of carer's allowance increased to €200 per week for carers age 66 years and over. This rate of payment may be higher in many instances than the rate of old age pension or widow or widower's pension payable to a person. Such a person who is providing full time care and attention to a person who requires such care may be entitled to receive this higher rate of carer's allowance.

I would strongly urge a person in this position to make inquiries with my Department. 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. Those recommendations involving additional expenditure can only be considered in a budgetary context.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 798: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an exceptional needs payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow for home heating oil. [1503/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for exceptional needs payments to assist with essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her household income or other resources. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.

The southern area of the executive has advised that it has refused a claim from the person concerned for an exceptional needs payment in respect of home heating oil costs on the grounds that the circumstances in this case did not warrant payment.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 799: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has not been approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1504/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in regard to decisions on individual claims.

The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that the only application for rent supplement it received from the person in question was in February 2005. This application was refused by the executive, as she was deemed not to have a housing need. The executive has further advised that if the circumstances of the person concerned have changed then she should make a fresh application for rent supplement.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 800: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he intends to make regulations under section 7 of the Social Welfare and Pension Act 2005; if he intends to make regulations covering section 196A (1)[i](e)[/i] of section 7 of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1506/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Up to 2005, the respite care grant was payable to persons who were in receipt of either the carer's allowance or carer's benefit payments on the date that the grant was payable, the first Thursday of June. Section 7 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2005 amended the scheme, by increasing the amount of the grant to €1,000 and by extending entitlement to the grant, subject to certain employment-related conditions, to all persons providing full-time care and attention to a person requiring such care. Section 7 also conferred powers to make regulations detailing requirements for entitlement to the grant.

The relevant regulations, the Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) (Amendment) (No. 3) (Respite Care Grant) Regulations 2005, SI 231 of 2005, were promulgated on 29 April 2006, and they provide for such matters as the date on which the grant is payable; the period for which the carer must provide full-time care and attention to the care recipient; certain circumstances in which a carer is to be regarded as continuing to provide the full-time care and attention; the conditions to be satisfied by a carer who is not residing with the care recipient, as provided for in section 196A(1)(e) as quoted by the Deputy; the conditions under which a person may engage in employment or self-employment but continue to be regarded as providing full-time care and attention; certain requirements as to the medical certification of the care recipient; and the time limit for application.

Further improvements to the respite care grant scheme were announced in Budget 2006. These include a further increase of €200, bringing the amount of the grant to €1,200, in addition to provision to increase, from ten to 15, the number of hours which a carer may engage in employment or self-employment and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention to the person requiring care. The necessary primary legislation will be brought forward during the current parliamentary session.