David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 1191 of 31 January 2007, the schemes whose recipients will be allowed to qualify for the new half-rate carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8234/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's Allowance is a social assistance payment paid to people who are providing full time care and attention to a person who needs such care. 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 reforms in this area in Budget 2007.

In the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007, which I published recently, I provided for new arrangements whereby people in receipt of a social welfare payment, who are also providing full time care and attention, will be able to retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which will be equivalent to 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.

These new arrangements will apply to almost all weekly social welfare payments and to people in receipt of qualified adult allowances. Recipients of jobseeker's allowance or benefit will not be eligible for the new arrangements, given the nature of these payments. This is in line with the arrangements which currently apply to receipt of the respite care grant. It is estimated that approximately 18,000 carers will benefit from this measure at a cost of some €57 million in a full year.

"Towards 2016" commits the Government to continuing to review the 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.