Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the submissions he has received with regard to improvements in the carers allowance scheme; the scope or potential to develop this carers scheme as a social assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43166/06]

Martin Brady (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way persons who qualify for the new half-rate carers allowance can claim their benefit; the number of social welfare recipients he expects to benefit from this change; the impact on carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43154/06]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the implications for the payment of a half rate carers allowance to people in receipt of other welfare payments will have on the rule which forbids the payment of two welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43285/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on either individualising the means test for carers allowance or introducing a cost of care payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43283/06]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the procedure for those who are eligible for the new half-rate carers allowance; the numbers expected to benefit from the increased income disregard; the way these changes will affect the availability of carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43302/06]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on abolishing the means test for the carers allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43123/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to extend the carers allowance to persons currently providing care but not receiving a payment due to means testing; his views on offering a partial payment to such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43198/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the anticipated cost of providing a carers payment or part thereof to each person currently caring for someone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43617/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 43, 45, 70, 72, 86, 97 and 291 together.

Supporting and recognising carers in our society is and has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

According to Census 2002, there are some 148,750 people providing care to someone for at least 1 hour per week. Of these, 48,500 people are providing personal care for more than 29 hours per week or just over 4 hours per day. More than 14,300 of this group are employed for more than 15 hours per week.

At present there are just over 27,100 people in receipt of carer's allowance. A further 1,400 people are in receipt of carer's benefit. As a result of the extension of the respite care grant to all full time carers regardless of their means some 34,000 grants are now being paid, including over 8,300 grants to people who are not in receipt of carer's allowance or carer's benefit.

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 spouse's earnings disregard.

Following Budget 2006, since April, the earnings disregard for a couple has been set at €580 per week which is equivalent to gross average industrial earnings. As a result of further improvements which I announced in the Budget 2007 this disregard will increase to €640 per week for a couple from April 2007.

When this increase is in place a couple with two children will be able to earn up to €36,240 and still qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits.

This measure surpasses the commitment in Towards 2016 to ensure that those on average industrial earnings can continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

It is estimated that complete abolition of the means test for carer's allowance would cost over €140 million in a full year. The view of some support organisations is that if this level of resources were available, it would be more beneficial to carers if it were invested in further increases to carers allowance and 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.

From June 2005, I extended the annual respite care grant to all carers who are providing full time care to a person who needs such care regardless of their income. Those persons in receipt of other social welfare payments, excluding jobseeker's assistance and benefit, are entitled to this payment subject to meeting the full time care condition. In Budget 2007 I provided for the level of the grant to increase by €300 to €1,500 from June next year.

The primary objective of the social welfare system is to provide income support and as a general rule only one weekly social welfare payment is payable to an individual. Persons qualifying for two social welfare payments receive the higher payment to which they are entitled. I am aware that this has been a cause of particular concern to people in receipt of a social welfare payment when they become carers.

For that reason I was very pleased to introduce fundamental structural reforms in this area in Budget 2007. In future people in receipt of another social welfare payment who are also providing full time care and attention to a person will be able to retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment depending on their means, the maximum of which will be equivalent of a half rate carer's allowance.

It is estimated that approximately 18,000 carers will benefit from this measure at cost of €56.72 million in a full year. The precise details regarding how this new arrangement will operate are being examined and will be set out in legislation early next year. The measure will come into effect in September 2007.

Each year I receive a significant number of pre-Budget submissions, many of which include proposals in relation to the carer's allowance. I also receive a large number of representations both from public representatives, representative organisations and members of the public relating to income support for carers. Among the most common issues raised are the means test for carer's allowance, the position of people in receipt of a payment other than carer's allowance or benefit who are also providing full time care and attention and the level of the payment. I am pleased that Budget 2007 includes improvements relating to each of these issues.

I have already outlined the new arrangements for people in receipt of another social welfare payment and the increases in the income disregard. In addition, I have increased the rates of carer's allowance to €200 per week for those aged under 66 and to €218 per week for those aged over 66.

Towards 2016 commits the Government to continuing to scope for further development of the carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant. I am committed to working for, and with, carers to deliver increased benefits, supports, and services for them and their families. The improvements for carers which I announced in Budget 2007 are further evidence of this commitment.