Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will ensure adequate funding to meet the requirements of carers in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9458/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2009, I increased the rate of carer's allowance for those aged 66 or over by €7 to €239 per week and for those aged under 66 by €6.50 to €220.50 per week. These increases took effect from January 2009. Recipients of carer's allowance are also eligible for household benefits and free travel and the respite care grant.

Since 1997 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, half-rate carer's allowance and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

The means test for carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been 332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,200 and qualify for the maximum rate of Carer's Allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €60,400 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel, household benefits package. These levels surpass the Towards 2016 commitment to ensure those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

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. The rate of the respite care grant has also been increased to €1,700 per year in respect of each care recipient since June 2008.

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. It is estimated that combined expenditure on carer's allowance, carer's benefit, the respite care grant and half-rate carers will be €650 million in 2009.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans in terms of the adequacy of the budget available to her Department to meet in full the requirements of persons seeking social welfare payments in the course of the economic downturn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9460/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Estimates for the Department of Social and Family Affairs which were published with the 2009 Budget were based, in the main, on an analysis of trends as regards likely numbers of recipients and average value of payments in 2009. The estimates for jobseeker's Benefit and jobseeker's Allowance were based on the Department of Finance's prediction at that time of an average Live Register of 290,000 for the year.

Developments in relation to the Live Register are being closely monitored by the Government. Decisions about the adequacy of current resources available to the Department will be taken in a budgetary context.