Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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123. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if income supports will be protected for family carers in budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34024/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of €776 million in 2013 on the various carers schemes (carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance, respite care grant and carer’s benefit).

The Deputy will be aware that the Expenditure Report 2013 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform last December provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €440 million to be achieved in 2014 in the Department of Social Protection budget. The Government have not made any decisions in relation to measures to be introduced in Budget 2014. The Government will finalise its consideration of the Budget in the coming months having regard to all of its commitments, including the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain welfare rates. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day.