David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 616 and 617 of 26 September 2007, if the Government has completed its consideration of the report of the Working Group on Long Term Care; the conclusions of same in relation to the issues facing young carers; if the commitment, as stated in Towards 2016, to a study of the extent to which children undertake inappropriate care roles in order to establish the extent and degree to which this issue arises and the levels of impact it has on the lives of children concerned is being fulfilled; when this study will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29719/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides income support to carers by way of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant. The respite care grant, which is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention, is payable from age 16. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means or social insurance contributions but it is subject to certain qualifying conditions. From June 2007 the value of the grant was increased from €1,200 to €1,500 per year in respect of each care recipient. Carer's allowance, which provides income support to people who are providing certain older people or people with a disability with full time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit, is payable from age 18.

As you are aware the Working Group on Long Term Care was established by the Minister for Health and Children and my predecessor, Minister Brennan, in January 2005 to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care. It comprises senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and my own Department. My officials have brought the issue of young carers to the attention of the Working Group. The report of that Working Group is being considered by Government.

The national partnership agreement "Towards 2016" includes a commitment to a study of the extent to which children undertake inappropriate care roles in order to establish the extent and degree to which this issue arises and the levels of impact it has on the lives of children concerned. The office of the Minister for Children has the lead role in relation to this study and my Department will engage with it as appropriate.

I am always prepared to consider changes to existing arrangements where these are for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available to me. However, I consider that it is through the provision of health and education services rather than income that we can best support young carers.