Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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160. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons (details supplied) who are mothers of adult children aged 16 years and over, who have Down's syndrome, have been refused the annual respite grant on grounds that they are working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44946/14]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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161. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a parent of a child with Down's syndrome aged over 16 and working outside the home for 16 hours per week at minimum wage, thus earning €17,888 per annum does not quality for the annual respite grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44990/14]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a carer of a child aged over 16 who has Downs syndrome and who is in receipt of carer’s allowance automatically qualifies for the annual respite grant despite the fact that the child is attending secondary school/adult day services for at least 30 hours a week and therefore is in the care of the school during this period, and not in the care of the parent; the reason persons (details supplied) are being refused the annual respite grant; when she will put an end to this discriminatory practice and treat all mothers whether working full time inside or outside the home equally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45070/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 161 and 171 together.

The Respite Care Grant (RCG) forms part of a range of illness, disability and carer supports provided by my Department to people with disabilities and those who care for them. The RCG is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Prescribed Relative’s Allowance. Carers who are not in receipt of one of the above payments but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for the grant to a standalone RCG section.

This 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. There is no income limit. The limitation applies to hours of employment/training/education, regardless of income generated by this.

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. During this period of employment or education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person. This 15-hour limitation is contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carers Allowance, Carers Benefit and Respite Care Grant schemes, however, it does not apply in the case of the Domiciliary Care Allowance scheme. There are no plans to change the conditionality around the maximum hours at this time. Respite Care is not a means tested payment.