Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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58. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact that the latest Health Service Executive performance report shows that the number of respite overnights for persons with a disability is well below the expected target, if she will re-instate the respite care grant to family carers. [17316/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The respite care grant (RCG) is available and paid automatically to people in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance or prescribed relative's allowance. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attentions are also eligible and can apply for the grant. In 2014 RCG was paid to some 86,000 people at a cost of some €119 million.

Any change to the rate of RCG can only be considered in the context of Budget preparations.