Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to supports to carer's who need additional financial aid in respect of respite costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1069/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am aware that the reduction in the respite care grant is very difficult for carers. However, in order to allow us to protect the core weekly payments which people receive such as pensions, disability and carer’s allowance, the Government had to look very carefully at other additional payments, such as the respite care grant. I have no plans to introduce additional financial aid in respect of respite costs.

Carers receive significant income supports from the Department, among the highest rates of income support in Europe. Carers receive additional support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who live with the person for whom they care), and the annual respite care grant in respect of each person for whom they care. If a person is getting certain qualifying social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, they can keep their main social welfare payment and get the half-rate carer's allowance as well. They can also receive an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person.

The income disregard and means test for carers is the most generous within the social welfare system. A couple under 66 with two children, earning a joint annual income of up to €35,400 can qualify for maximum payment carer’s allowance which such a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate.

Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. The estimated expenditure on carers in 2012 was over €771 million: €509 million on carer’s allowance, €24 million on carer’s benefit, €135 million on the respite care grant and €103 on domiciliary care allowance. This represents an increase of almost €20 million on expenditure in 2011. There are almost 52,000 people in receipt of carer’s allowance. Of these, over 23,000 are getting half-rate carer’s allowance in addition to another social welfare payment at an annual cost of some €90 million. There are over 1,600 people in receipt of carer’s benefit. The numbers in receipt of a carer’s allowance payment from the Department have increased by more than 150% in the last 10 years from 20,000 in 2001 to 52,000 in 2012. Expenditure on the carer’s allowance scheme has increased by almost 220% in the same period.

The respite care grant is paid to approximately 70,000 people each year, with some 5,000 people in receipt of more than one grant as they care for more than one person. This includes people who are in receipt of the carer’s allowance, the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) and carer’s benefit. Persons who are in receipt of both DCA and carer’s allowance receive one respite payment. In addition, some 5,000 carers not in receipt of a carer’s payment receive the grant.

The rate of the respite care grant has also increased significantly in the last ten years from €635 in 2002 to €1,700 in 2012. Expenditure on the grant has increased by 290% since 2005 from €34.3 million to €135 million in 2012.

While the respite care grant is an important income support for carers, respite services are provided by the HSE, not through income supports provided by the Department of Social Protection. A survey carried out in 2006 indicated that the respite care grant, in the majority of cases, is not used for respite care.

If a person getting a social welfare payment has a once-off exceptional expense which they cannot reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income, they may apply for an exceptional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.