Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications which are on hand presently for the respite care grant; when these applications are expected to be processed; when the grants are due to be awarded to all qualifying applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25032/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The respite care grant was extended in 2005 to carers other than those in receipt of a carer's allowance, carer's benefit, prescribed relative allowance, constant attendance allowance and domiciliary care allowance. Carers who do not qualify for a grant under one of these schemes may now obtain a grant if they and the person for whom they are caring satisfy certain conditions.

Customers who received a respite grant in 2005 were earlier this year contacted individually to inform them of their possible entitlement to the grant in 2006 and to verify that their circumstances have not changed since last year.

Following this communication over 6,000 applications for the 2006 grant have been received by my Department since the beginning of May. These applications are currently being processed and a decision on each application will be made as soon as possible. Each applicant will be notified of the outcome of their application and where awards are made the grants will be paid immediately thereafter. To date grants have been paid in 838 of these cases and the balance are awaiting decision.

Again this year I have enhanced the Respite Care Grant Scheme. In 2005, the amount of the grant was EUR1,000, this increased to EUR1,200 from June this year. Also, from June, the number of hours that a carer may work and still receive a respite care grant has increased from 10 to 15 hours per week.

I am satisfied that the arrangements in place will ensure the speedy processing of all applications and all applicants notified of the outcome at the earliest possible date. Following that my Department will again advertise the scheme to invite further applications.