Written answers

Tuesday, 4 December 2007

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 66: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will provide a progress report on the welfare reforms proposed under the Programme for Government for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32272/07]

Photo of Paul Connaughton  SnrPaul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 69: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the introduction of a payment for full time carers linked to a labour market equivalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32256/07]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 72: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will carry out a review of the way in which the criteria for the means test for the carer's allowance is applied; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32255/07]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 69 and 72 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 greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have 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.

Carer's allowance, in line with other social assistance schemes, is means tested. This ensures scarce resources are directed at those in greatest need. The carer's allowance means test is one of the more flexible tests in terms of the assessment of household incomes. The means test has been significantly eased over the years, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Budget 2007 provided for an income disregard for a couple of €640 per week. This ensures a couple can earn in the region of €36,000 per annum and still receive the maximum rate of carer's allowance and the associated free travel and household benefits. This measure surpasses the Towards 2016 commitment to ensure those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

Recently, significant reforms came into force, which allow people in receipt of certain other social welfare payments, who are also providing full time care and attention, to retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment, depending on their means. The maximum payment will be the equivalent of a half rate carer's allowance.

The primary objective of the carer's allowance is to provide income support to low income carers. Carer's benefit, eligibility for which is based on social insurance contributions, is available as an alternative to carer's allowance for people who are providing someone with full time care and attention but who do not qualify for carer's allowance due to the level of their means. These are income support payments and they are not intended to provide people with a wage for caring which is what a payment along the lines proposed would effectively represent.

In June 2005, the respite care grant was extended to all people providing full time care and attention regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. Since then, the grant has also been paid in respect of each care recipient. Budget 2007 increased the level of the grant by €300 from €1,200 to €1,500 per year in respect of each care recipient.

One of the key Government commitments in the national partnership agreement "Towards 2016" is the development of a national carer's strategy and this commitment is reiterated in the Programme for Government. The strategy will focus on supporting informal and family carers in the community. While social welfare supports for carers will clearly be a key issue in the strategy, other issues such as access to respite and other services, education, training and employment will also feature strongly. All relevant departments and agencies will be involved in the strategy and there will be appropriate consultation with the social partners. An inter-Departmental working group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, is being established to develop the strategy and I expect it to be completed by summer of 2008.

The recent improvements in the income supports available from this Department represent major improvements in the supports available to carers. The development of a national carer's strategy provides us with an opportunity to build further on these improvements and to consider other areas where progress can be made.

Photo of Pádraic McCormackPádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 67: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures in place to ensure that all families entitled to receive family income supplement are receiving it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32280/07]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Family Income Supplement (FIS) provides income support for employees on low earnings with families. This preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments. There are currently some 21,000 people in receipt of FIS.

My Department undertakes a number of measures to ensure that people are aware of possible entitlement to FIS. These include advice to all persons who are awarded one parent family payment and back to work allowance recipients. All employers are provided annually with information about the scheme. Information on FIS is contained in all child benefit books and can be accessed on the Department's website.

The Revenue Commissioners have also included information on FIS when writing to PAYE taxpayers with their certificates of tax credits. In addition, the scheme is promoted through my Department's network of Local Offices, Citizen Information Centres and Citizens Information Phone Service and by the Citizen's Information Board, the National Information Support Agency.

In Budget 2006, FIS income thresholds were increased by a range of earnings limits designed to enable more people to qualify. To ensure that families were made aware of these improvements, my Department undertook a nationwide awareness campaign in March 2006 to promote and encourage take up of the Family Income Supplement scheme. This extensive week-long campaign included advertising on TV, on national and local radio and in the national and regional press. A nation-wide poster campaign was also undertaken.

I am very pleased with the response to the campaign. In 2006 my Department received 13,700 new FIS claims; this compares with 8,500 received in 2005. 11,000 new claims have been received up to end of October this year compared with 7,000 for the corresponding period in 2005.

With regard to the level of take up, it is not possible to estimate from administrative sources the number of families who would be eligible but do not apply for their FIS entitlements. In order to address the issue of FIS take up my department has commissioned a research project to examine factors behind the level of take up for the scheme. This is at preparatory stage at present and is expected to be completed in July 2008.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.