Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1501. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite grant in each of the years 2011 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35424/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

Carer's benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.

The carer's support grant is an annual payment made to carers by the Department. Carers can use the grant in whatever way they wish. In June of each year (usually on the first Thursday of the month), the grant is paid automatically to carers getting carer's allowance, carer's benefit, or domiciliary care allowance. Only one carer's support grant can be paid for each person receiving care. It can also be paid to certain other carers providing full-time care.

The numbers of carers living in counties Cavan and Monaghan who were in receipt of carer's allowance and benefit on 31 December each year follows in the table. Records are not available for the numbers from Cavan and Monaghan who received a Carer's Support Grant during the period 2011-2012 and 2016-date.

* Carer’s Benefit numbers are unavailable for 2015 due to transfer to a new computer system.