Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider granting a [i]pro rata[/i] respite payment to carer's whose role concludes before the completion of a 12 month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19330/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The respite care grant is an annual payment of €1,700 for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions. One respite care grant per year is paid in respect of each person for whom the carer is providing full time care and attention.

In order to qualify a person must, in addition to other criteria, be caring for at least six months. The payment is made to those who are caring on the first Thursday in June. This date in June is in place to allow carers to avail of respite over the summer months, to facilitate the administration of the grant as a once-off payment and to ensure that the grant is targeted at those providing full-time care over a significant period of time.

There are no plans to amend the criteria for the grant to allow for a pro-rata payment.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if supplementary allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [19362/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the payment of rent supplement to the person in question has been restored and payment will issue shortly.