Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the Exchequer of providing the carer's allowance on a non-means tested basis to all persons in receipt of a carers respite grant. [46408/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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 primary objective of the carer's allowance is to provide income support to low income carers. The carer's allowance means test is one of the more flexible tests in terms of the assessment of household incomes. It has been significantly eased over the years, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings.

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 2008 increased the level of the grant by to €1,700 per year in respect of each care recipient from June 2008.

In addition to those in receipt of carer's allowance and carer's benefit who are automatically paid the respite care grant in June each year a further 6,370 people have been paid the respite care grant in respect of 2008. The estimated cost of extending carer's allowance to this group on a non-means tested basis is in the region o f €80 million per year.

I have no plans at present to abolish the means test for the carer's allowance scheme.