David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount saved by the operation of the means test for the carer's allowance in the most recent complete year for which data is available; the percentages of that amount that are attributable to the carer's own income from earnings and self-employment, the carer's own income from other sources, the carer's own investments, the means of the person's spouse and other item of means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10343/06]

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 older people or people with a disability with full time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit.

In line with other social assistance schemes, a means test is applied to the carer's allowance so as 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 disregards of spouses' earnings.

Following budget 2006, 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 the free travel, the household benefits package and the respite care grant.

The precise information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However the following may be of assistance. The cost of the abolition of the means test is estimated at €140 million in a full year. 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 kind of money were available, it would be more beneficial to carers if it were invested 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.

Of the current payments of carer's allowance, 91% are at the maximum rate and 9% at reduced rates. The rate of refusal for the allowance is 22% of all applications that were received in 2005.

The reasons for refusal of the allowance are as follows and relate to 2005:

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the proportion of carers who are known to have resumed employment or transferred to another social welfare payment within three months of when their entitlement to carer's benefit or allowance ceased in the most recent 12 months for which data is readily available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10344/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average age of carers at the time of application; the proportion of carers aged under 40 years, under 55 years and under 60 years when they first apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10345/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of carers claims that ceased in the most recent complete year due to the death of the person being cared for, the admission of that person to an institution, a change of residence of that person, a recovery in the ability of person being cared for, the carer's own death, the carer's incapacity, the carer ceasing to act as with another person applying to become carer, an increase in the carers assessable means, and all other reasons. [10718/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 456, 457 and 472 together.

Support for carers has been a priority of Government since 1997. Payments to carers have been greatly improved over that period and qualifying conditions for carers allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carers benefit and the respite care payment have been introduced. The further development of support for carers continues to be a priority for me and for the Government. As of the week ending 10 March 2006, there are now 25,361 persons in receipt of carer's allowance. The information requested by the Deputy has been prepared in tabular format as follows: