Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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105. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider making changes to eligibility rules governing the carer's allowance payment in respect of the requirement that recipients must not be engaged in education and-or training for periods longer than 15 hours per week; if consideration will be given to relaxing this requirement for persons that opt for care sharing, which enables carers who are providing care on a part-time basis in an established pattern share the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36497/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It is a condition for receipt of carer’s benefit and carer’s allowance that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention to a person who requires such full-time care and attention because of a specified illness or disability. This condition is moderated by legislation allowing the carer to work or engage in training outside the home for an aggregate total of 15 hours per week. During this period of employment or education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.

Care sharing, available to carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, provides a flexible arrangement that: supports a more equitable sharing of care within families; enables carers to retain contact with the world of work and training and facilitates carers in taking a break from their caring role.

Two carers who are providing care on a part-time basis in an established pattern can be accommodated on the carer's allowance scheme. Each carer will share the carer's allowance income support payment and the annual respite care grant. A carer providing full time care on a part time basis is required under legislation to provide care for a complete week i.e. Monday to Sunday and only one carer’s allowance payment may be paid in any week. The usual qualifying conditions for carer’s allowance, including the moderation allowing the carer to engage in work, education or training apply to carers availing of these arrangements.

The 15 hour moderation of the full-time care requirement achieves 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 - while also helping to increase social participation.

While there are no current plans to change the 15 hour moderation my Department will continue to consult with carers’ representative groups to ensure that the overall objectives of the scheme are met.