Written answers

Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 pm

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on correspondence (details supplied). [12449/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Carer's Allowance scheme has been significantly improved in recent years and in Budget 2009, I continued this process. The rate of carer's allowance for those aged 66 or over increased 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, 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 that 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.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the annual cost to the Exchequer of the early childhood supplement for each year since its inception to date in 2009; the projected cost, [i]ceteris paribus[/i], to the Exchequer of the ECS for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011; the number of families availing of the ECS, broken down by the numbers inside Ireland and outside Ireland; the number of children covered by the ECS, broken down by the numbers inside Ireland and outside Ireland; the number of applications for the ECS in hand, broken down by the numbers inside Ireland and outside Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12466/09]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the annual cost to the Exchequer of child benefit for each of the years since 2002 to date in 2009; the projected cost, [i]ceteris paribus[/i], to the Exchequer of child benefit for the years 2009, 2010, 2011; the number of families availing of child benefit broken down by the numbers inside Ireland and outside Ireland; the number of children covered by child benefit, broken down by the numbers inside Ireland and outside Ireland; the number of applications for child benefit in hand, broken down by the number inside Ireland and outside Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12467/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.

The Early Childcare Supplement is administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

The cost of the Early Childcare supplement for each year since its inception in April 2006 was as follows:

Year€ Million
2006292
2007417
2008477

The projected cost in 2009 is €340 million; expenditure to date in 2009 is €74m (no payment was made in January 2009, as payment is now monthly in arrears). The projected costs for 2010 and 2011 cannot yet be estimated with any degree of accuracy given the reduction in immigration and the increased outflow of EU and other workers in the current economic situation.

The number of families availing of the ECS at March 2009 (children aged under 5.5 years) was 283,000 in respect of 379,513 children. Of these, approximately 2,850 families are currently paid under EU regulations for some 3,700 non-resident children.

The total number of Child Benefit claims on hand and not yet finalised is 3,500 for resident children and 6,500 for non-resident children, approximately 17,000 children in total. Of these approximately 30% are under 5 years of age.

The annual cost of the Child Benefit scheme since 2002 is as follows:

Year€ Billion
20021.46
20031.66
20041.76
20051.89
20062.05
20072.23
20082.45

The projected cost of Child Benefit in 2009 is €2.53 Billion; expenditure to date in 2009 is some €617m.

The number of families in payment at end February 2009 was 599,626, in respect of 1,150,153 children. Of these, 6,200 were claims paid under EU regulations in respect of some 10,500 non resident children.

The projected costs for 2010 and 2011 cannot yet be estimated with any degree of accuracy given the reduction in immigration and the increased outflow of EU and other workers in the current economic situation.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the maximum rent support payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if an increase will be offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12511/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The Executive has advised that the entitlement of the person concerned to rent supplement is as communicated to the Deputy on 12 March 2009.

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