David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of the respite grant aged under 18 years in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively; and the percentages of same in relation to number of respite grant recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18860/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to Budget 2005, the only people paid the Respite Care Grant by my Department were those in receipt of Carers Benefit or Carers Allowance who were paid the Grant automatically with their primary payment. As neither Carers Benefit nor Carers Allowance is payable to people under 18 years of age, nobody under that age was entitled to the Grant prior to 2005. Accordingly, the answer to the Deputy's question in respect of 2003 and 2004 is nil.

Budget 2005, inter alia, extended entitlement to the Grant to all full time carers, regardless of means or contribution record but subject to certain conditions relating notably to employment.

The age limit for the Respite Care Grant for those newly qualified under Budget 2005 is 16. The number of people under 18 who received the Respite Care Grant in 2005 is 3 out of the total of over 7,000 Grants paid in 2005.