David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether he will waive habitual residence qualifying condition for carer's allowance in particular for persons who are returning from living overseas to take up the full-time care of a sick relative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15405/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. Carers allowance is one of the schemes affected.

The basis for the restriction in the new rules is the applicant's habitual residence. A person's habitual residence is decided in accordance with European Court of Justice case law, which sets out the grounds for assessing individual claims.

It is open to persons returning to Ireland to care for sick or elderly relatives to make claims for carers allowance. Such persons will be required to satisfy a deciding officer that their centre of interest is now here and that it is their intention to remain here on a long-term basis in order to be deemed habitually resident in the State.

The application of the habitual residence condition has to be compatible with EU law and other international and national legal obligations and it is not possible in applying the condition, to discriminate in favour of any particular group or nationality. It is not possible to waive the habitual residence requirement in respect of persons who return home to care for sick relatives.

The habitual residence condition is being operated in a careful manner to ensure that the social welfare system is not open to everyone who is newly arrived in Ireland, while at the same time ensuring that people whose cases are appropriate to the Irish social welfare system have access to the system when they need it.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of rent allowance from his Department for each year respectively since the year 2000; the figure for 2006; the cost to his Department of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15406/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Decontrolled rent allowance is payable to tenants of certain dwellings affected by the de-control of rents that occurred in July 1982. A tenant who suffers hardship due to a rent increase of a decontrolled rent may qualify for this form of rent allowance. The allowance is not assessable as means for the other social welfare or Health Service Executive payments.

The number of persons in receipt of rent allowance shows a gradual decrease as follows:

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on altering the qualification criteria for the family income supplement to include self-employed persons; the reason self-employed persons are not eligible for the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15407/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Family income supplement, FIS, is designed to provide cash support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were unemployed and claiming other social welfare payments. FIS is paid on a weekly basis over a period of 52 weeks, taking into account a family's net earnings and the number of children under 18 or aged between 18 and 22 years and in full-time education.

Arrangements already exist whereby self-employed people on low earnings can receive additional payments under the social welfare system. Self-employed people whose income falls below the rate of unemployment assistance, UA, appropriate to their family circumstances are entitled to claim assistance. The rate of assistance payable depends on the person's means. In assessing means, account is taken of the net income the applicant may reasonably expect to receive in the next year, and all expenses necessarily incurred by the applicant in carrying out the business are disregarded. In addition, farm assist is payable as an income support for low-income self-employed farmers.

Any extension of FIS to other categories of persons would have to be considered in a budgetary context. There are no plans for such an extension in present circumstances.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people aged over 66 in receipt of either the carer's allowance or carer's benefit for each year since the year 2003 respectively; the figure for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15408/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of a State pension who also provide full-time care for a person for each year since the year 2003 respectively; the figure for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 466 together.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding persons over 66 years in receipt of carer's allowance has been prepared in tabular format as follows:

The information regarding persons over 66 in receipt of carer's benefit is not readily to hand but is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy within the next few days.

The information requested by the Deputy on the number of people in receipt of a State pension who are providing full-time care and attention, is not readily available either from CSO data or the records of my Department in respect of 2003 and 2004.

In Budget 2005, the respite care grant was extended to all carers providing full-time care and attention. The grant is now paid regardless of means but is subject to certain employment-related conditions and the provision of full-time care and attention.

Figures are available within my Department of the numbers of persons in receipt of another social welfare payment and who qualified for the respite care grant in 2005. These figures are currently being compiled and will also be forwarded directly to the Deputy within the next few days.