Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the policy whereby a person can not be in receipt of the back to work allowance as well as the carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21309/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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One of the fundamental qualifying conditions for carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant is that the person be providing full-time care and attention to a person 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.

Budget 2007 provided for new arrangements whereby people can receive a maximum payment equivalent to a half rate carer's allowance while receiving certain other social welfare payments.

The back to work allowance scheme enables social welfare customers to return to the workforce in either paid employment or self-employment and retain a proportion of their social welfare payment over a number of years. One of the qualifying conditions for the back to work allowance is that the person must be engaged in full-time employment of at least 20 hours per week. For this reason the back to work allowance is not payable with half-rate carer's allowance.

Carer's allowance recipients who have ceased caring duties may be eligible to apply for the back to work allowance.

I have no plans to change the position in relation to the back to work allowance scheme. However, 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.