Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 297: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of hours a carer is allowed to work outside the home and not affect their carers allowance or carer's benefit payment in May and June 2006. [18305/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 298: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the income a carer is entitled to earn and still retain their carer's allowance or carer's benefit in May and June 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18306/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.

Support of 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 Government.

Under the Regulations governing Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit, a person may participate in employment for a maximum of 10 hours per week. Following improvements in Budget 2006 the hours will increase to 15 hours per week from June 2006. From April 2006 the income limit from employment for recipients of Carer's Benefit has increased by €40 to €290 per week. 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.

Provision has been made in successive Budgets for substantial increases in the income disregards. From April 2006 the weekly income disregards increased by €20 to €290 for a single carer and by €40 to €580 for a couple. This means that 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 free travel, the household benefits package and the respite care grant.