Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will revise the criteria of the respite care grant in order to enable those who work more that 15 hours a week to be able to avail of the payment, as in many instances these persons do provide full-time care. [39214/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Respite Care Grant (RCG) is an annual payment of €1,375 for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention.

The full-time care provision is moderated by permitting the carer to work or engage in education or training for a maximum of 15 hours per week.

This moderation of the full time care provision represents a reasonable balance between meeting the requirement for providing full-time care for the care recipient and the needs of the carer to engage in employment or education. It also serves the additional purpose of reducing the social alienation experienced by many carers.

I have no plans to change the conditionality around the maximum hours at this time.