Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the provision that entitles people in receipt of a non-contributory pension to claim 50% of a carers allowance and to retain their pension will be implemented immediately; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6928/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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From September 2007 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. A person currently in receipt of a carer's allowance who may have an underlying entitlement to another social welfare payment will be able to transfer to that payment and receive up to a half rate carer's allowance. This does not apply to persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or benefit, given the nature of these payments.

In order to qualify under these new arrangements people will have to satisfy all of the qualifying conditions which currently apply to carer's allowance. These include the requirement that applicants must be providing full time care and attention to a person who needs such care, be aged 18 or over, be habitually resident in the state and satisfy a means test. In addition, the person being cared for must need continuous supervision and frequent help throughout the day with their personal needs or continuous supervision to avoid danger to themselves and require full time care and attention for at least 12 months.

It is estimated that approximately 18,000 carers will benefit from this measure at cost of some €57 million in a full year. This provision was part of the overall Budget package which involved major improvements across the range of social welfare schemes. The implementation dates for these various provisions are determined having regard to the legal, financial and administrative implications involved.