Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1307: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to reconsider the time frame for the carers benefit in order to allow persons to continue receiving the payment for as long as the care recipient needs full time care and beyond the current restriction of two years for each person being cared for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30433/08]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1348: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on extending entitlements under the social welfare code for persons providing care for elderly family relatives who are deemed in need of full-time medical care to continue for the period of time whilst the relative requires ongoing care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30901/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1307 and 1348 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.

The carer's benefit scheme is specifically intended to support people who must leave the workforce temporarily to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention. In Budget 2006 the duration of carer's benefit was extended from 15 to 24 months in respect of each person being cared for. The duration for which people can avail of the associated carer's leave scheme was similarly extended in 2006. It is considered that employers would experience difficulties in preserving employee's rights for a longer period.

If the need for income support still exists after carer's benefit has expired, it is of course, open to the carer to apply for carer's allowance. Payment of carer's allowance continues for as long as the person continues to satisfy all of the qualifying conditions. In addition, a respite care grant will be paid each year, even after payment of carer's benefit has ceased, for as long as the person satisfies the full-time care and other qualifying conditions.