Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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415. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the community supports for persons caring for persons with dementia here; her plans to expand the support levels for those persons caring for persons with dementia; her plans to meet dementia advocacy groups to discuss increases in funding in the context of budget 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33245/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for a Partnership Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.

My Department provides a range of schemes and payments that support those who are caring in their communities for family members, friends or neighbours, who as a result of an illness or disability require full-time care and attention.

The income supports for people who are providing full-time care are; carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance (including half-rate carer’s allowance), domiciliary care allowance and the annual carer’s support grant.

Budget 2017 changes include a €5 increase in the payment rate and a measure that extends the payment of carer’s allowance to 12 weeks following the permanent admission of the care recipient to a nursing home and the end of the full-time caring role. This builds on Budget 2016 improvements including extending the period when carers allowance can be paid following the death of a care recipient from 6 to 12 weeks and increasing the carer’s support grant to €1,700.

My Department hosts an annual pre- budget forum, due to take place on Friday 21^stof July, which provides an opportunity for sectoral groups to provide submissions on their Budget priorities. As Minister, I also remain available to requests to meet advocacy groups to discuss issues relevant to the policies and responsibilities of my Department.

While there are no current plans to develop specific supports for dementia outside of the carer supports I have mentioned here, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers and people with disabilities under review. Any additional improvements or additions to these supports would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

The deputy may be aware of the HSE plan for Dementia, Understand Together www.understandtogether.ie.

I hope this clarifies the issue for the deputy.