Written answers

Thursday, 1 March 2007

Department of Social and Family Affairs

National Carers Strategy

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date with regard to implementation of the 2003 Report of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs on carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7902/07]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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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. The Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs Report on the Position of Full Time Carers, which was published in 2003 makes 15 recommendations, some of which relate specifically to my Department and others relate specifically to the Department of Health and Children. The report recommended abolition of the means test for carer's allowance. In line with other social assistance schemes, a means test is applied to the carer's allowance 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 disregard of spouse's earnings.

Since April 2006, the income disregard for a couple has been set at €580 per week, which is equivalent to gross average industrial earnings. As a result of the further improvements I announced in Budget 2007, this disregard will increase to €640 per week for a couple from April 2007. This means that a couple with two children will be able to earn approximately €36,000 and still qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance and the associated free travel and household benefits. This measure surpasses the Towards 2016 commitment to ensure that those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance. Another of the recommendations was that if a person who is in receipt of a widow/er's pension is giving someone full-time care and attention, that person should be paid a half rate carer's allowance in addition to his or her pension. In Budget 2007 I was pleased to introduce fundamental structural reforms in this area which go beyond this recommendation. In future, people in receipt of certain other social welfare payments who are 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 the equivalent of a half rate carer's allowance. It is estimated that this measure will benefit approximately 18,000 carers by up to €109 per week, at a cost of €56.72 million in a full year. I have provided for these new arrangements in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill which I published recently. In Budget 2006 I extend the duration of carer's benefit from 15 to 24 months. This is in line with the recommendations that the 15 month restriction be waived where the person continues to provide care.

The recommended extension of the respite care grant to people in receipt of a social welfare payment other than carer's allowance or benefit and who are providing someone with full-time care and attention was implemented in Budget 2005. That improvement went beyond the report's recommendation, as the respite care grant was extended to all full-time carers regardless of means. With regard to the provision of information, my Department gave the Carer's Association a grant to assist it in producing an information pack for carers. I was pleased to launch that comprehensive pack during the summer. In addition, my Department has recently run an information campaign about the income supports available for carers. This involved a week-long campaign which included advertisements on radio, television and in the print media. The report also recommended the development of a national strategy for carers. I am delighted that one of the key Government commitments in the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, is the development of a National Carers Strategy. This strategy, which will focus on supporting informal and family carers in the community, will be developed by the end of 2007. All relevant Departments and agencies will be involved and there will be appropriate consultation with the social partners. 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.

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