Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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323. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the major collective effect of the cuts to respite care allowance and the disability allowance for children and adults with a disability; and if she will reverse these cuts. [22823/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I should point out that disability allowance is one of the core weekly social welfare payments which the Government is committed to protecting, and therefore, the weekly rate has not been reduced. However, in the course of Budget 2013, the Government had to make some very difficult decisions and in order to protect those core weekly social welfare payments, we had to look very carefully at other additional payments such as the respite care grant. As a result, the grant was reduced by €325 to €1,375 per annum. I am very much aware that this reduction had implications for carers and their families.