Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the plans he has to extend the number of hours a carer may work and still retain entitlement to carer's allowance and carer's benefit. [5232/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, 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. One of the fundamental qualifying conditions for carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant is that the person provides full-time care and attention to someone who needs such care. The number of hours a person may engage in employment, self employment, training or education outside the home and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention for the purposes of the schemes was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week in June 2006.

In 2005, the carer's allowance scheme was extended, to accommodate care-sharing situations. Under these arrangements, it is possible for week-on week-off care sharing arrangements to be facilitated. This means that, where two carers are providing care to the same person on alternate weeks, the carer's allowance and the annual respite care grant can be split between them. I will keep the supports for carers available from my Department under review in order to continue to improve the schemes and ensure that commitments in relation to income support are delivered.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the criteria for qualification for respite care grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5227/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, 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. In 2005, the respite care grant was extended to all people providing full time care and attention, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions and it was made payable in respect of each care recipient. From June 2007, the level of the grant was increased by €300 per year to €1,500 per year in respect of each person being cared for.

As a result of improvements I provided for in Budget 2008, from June this year the level of grant will increase by a further €200 per year to €1,700 in respect of each care recipient. This is a significant step towards achieving the Government commitment to increasing the level of the grant to €3,000 per year in respect of each care recipient. I will continue to keep the supports for carers available from my Department under review.