Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 996: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has plans to speed up the process for signing on in order that the many people who have lost their jobs, or have had their working hours cut back, can receive their welfare payments quicker, in view of the fact that, in some areas, newly unemployed people and those who have been put on short time are experiencing delays in having their claims processed and payment coming through; if she has plans to streamline the process to avoid repeated form filling by applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2185/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is committed to providing a quality customer service. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are issued as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions which apply. Every effort is being made to process claims in local offices as quickly as possible. This includes the prioritisation of work, assignment of additional resources including staffing and overtime.

In the light of the increasing number of claims for jobseeker payments, the Department undertook a number of reviews of staffing levels in Local Offices last year. Arising from these reviews, the staffing levels were increased by 158 including an additional 115 staff from the most recent review. In addition to this, a number of central units are to be set up in various locations early this year to support Local Offices with particularly high claim loads. At the same time, the procedures and processes associated with claims for jobseeker payments are being reviewed and a number of process improvement initiatives are being implemented.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 997: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of recipients of the half rate carer's allowance, sub divided into other categories outlining the other social welfare payment they are receiving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2277/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 provided for new arrangements whereby people in receipt of certain social welfare payments, who are also providing full time care and attention, can retain their main social welfare payment and, depending on their means, receive half rate Carer's Allowance. There are currently 15,790 people in receipt of half rate Carer's Allowance. The breakdown of people in receipt of half rate Carer's Allowance as requested by the Deputy is attached in tabular format. No. of persons in receipt of half rate Carer's Allowance in addition to their main social welfare payment

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 998: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of the carer's allowance for the past three years; the cost of same for the three year period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2278/09]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 999: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of carer's benefit for the past three years; the cost of same for the three year period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2279/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 998 and 999 together.

Carer's Allowance is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full time care and attention to elderly people or to people with disabilities and whose income falls below certain income limits. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full time care and attention is required and being provided and that the means test, which applies, is satisfied. Recipient of Carer's Allowance have an entitlement to the Respite Care Grant in respect of each care recipient being cared for.

The Carer's Benefit scheme is a weekly income support payment operated this Department. It is intended to support people who must leave the workforce temporarily to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention. Entitlement to carer's benefit is based on satisfying medical, employment and PRSI contribution conditions. The maximum duration of the scheme is set at 104 weeks. Recipient of Carer's Benefit have an entitlement to the Respite Care Grant.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of recipients in receipt of Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit for the past 3 years and the cost of each scheme for these years is in tabular format as follows:

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 1000: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of respite care grant for the past three years; the cost of same for the three year period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2280/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Respite Care Grant (RCG) is a once-off annual payment made to all full-time carers, subject to conditions set out in legislation. For those carers in receipt of either Carers Allowance or Carers Benefit, the Grant is paid automatically. The total expenditure on the RCG in 2006 was nearly €50.5 million, in respect of 42,000 recipients; in 2007 the expenditure was some €73.4 million in respect of just over 37,000 recipients; and in 2008 the spend (estimated at this point) was just under €102 million in respect of nearly 60,000 recipients. The amount of the Grant was €1,000 in 2005, increased to € 1,200 in 2006, € 1,500 in 2007, and €1,700 in 2008.

In Budget 2005, potential entitlement to the Grant was extended to carers who, though not in receipt of either of the above payments, nonetheless satisfy the conditions with regard to the need for and the provision of full time care and attention. The figures quoted below relate to these grants, and are included in the overall figures above. The cost of the stand-alone Respite Care Grant in the three-year period from 2006 to 2008 totalled € 44.6 m and some 31,000 clients benefited from the scheme during this time. Year by year expenditure on the grant for each of the years 2006-2008, and the number of people who have benefited from the scheme are set out in tabular format below.

A carer may claim a Respite Care Grant in respect of more than one care recipient and the figures given include some instances of multiple care recipients. In these cases the carer is paid an increased amount.