Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who are in receipt of carer's allowance at full rate; the number of other social welfare recipients receiving the half rate carer's allowance; if she is satisfied that this system means that more elderly and disabled people can remain in their own homes at minimal cost to the Exchequer compared to full-time care; her views on making the scheme more accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35135/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, 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 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.

Budget 2007 provided for new arrangements whereby people can receive a maximum payment equivalent to a half rate carers allowance while receiving another social welfare payment, other than jobseekers benefit or allowance. At present there are 41,539 people in receipt of carers allowance. Of these almost 14,256 are in receipt of half rate carer's allowance in addition to another social welfare payment. A further 2,260 people are in receipt of carer's benefit.

In June 2006 the number of hours for which a person can engage in employment, self-employment, education or training and still be considered to be providing full-time care for the purposes of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week.

From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care, regardless of their income. Approximately, 5,800 people who are not in receipt of carer's allowance or benefit have so far received a respite care grant in respect of 2008. A carer who is caring for two or more people is entitled to a full grant for each of the care recipients. The rate of the grant increased to €1,700 per year from June 2008.

I am satisfied that all of the improvements made to carers payments in recent years have helped more people with disabilities and older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is she is satisfied that €7.70 is a realistic living alone allowance; if it will be increased in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35136/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and receiving payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution towards the additional costs faced by a person living alone.

The policy in relation to support for older people has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension in addition to enhancing the household benefits package which includes TV licence, telephone, electricity/gas and the fuel allowance rather than supplements like the living alone increase. The objective is to use resources to improve the position of all pensioners to the fullest extent possible rather than focusing on particular groups.