Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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659. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the situation regarding carer's allowance whereby a person who is providing full time care for two persons can only be awarded 1.5 of an allowance (details supplied). [50301/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of income supports for carers including carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance and the carer’s support grant. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient.

The maximum rate of carer’s allowance payable to a carer who provides full-time care and attention to one person is €209 weekly. If a carer is caring for a second person and is assessed with no means, they could qualify for a 150 per cent carer’s allowance which is payable at the weekly rate of €313.50.

The financial supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe. Furthermore, the means test for carer’s allowance is one of the least onerous in the range of social protection payments provided by my Department. Moreover, carers can continue to receive carer’s allowance at half the weekly rate if they are in receipt of another weekly social welfare payment. They are also entitled to free travel and if residing with the care recipient may also receive the household benefits package.

Considerable improvements have been introduced for carers in recent years. In Budget 2016, the carer’s support grant, which is payable without a means test, was increased to €1,700. In addition to this, the period when carer’s allowance can be paid following the death of a care recipient was extended from 6 to 12 weeks. Budget 2017 also introduced a measure that extends payment of carer’s allowance for 12 weeks where the care recipient enters permanent residential care. Most recently, Budget 2018 provides for a €5 increase in the weekly carer’s allowance rate. This follows on from a €5 per week increase in Budget 2017 and a €3 per week increase in Budget 2016. From the beginning of the week commencing 26 March 2018, the maximum payment rate for carer’s allowance will be €214 per week.

I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the key role carers play in society and I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review. However, any improvements or additions to these supports can only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.