Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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484. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the value of the carer's allowance payable will be increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38465/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department provides a range of income supports to assist carers. These include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer's Support Grant. The 2018 Revised Estimates provide an allocation of over €1.18 billion for these schemes (€789.1 million for Carer's Allowance , €35.9 million for Carer's Benefit, €153.1 million for Domiciliary Care Allowance and €207.7 million for the Carer's Support Grant), representing an increase of over €138 million from the 2017 allocation for these schemes.

It should be noted that Carer’s Allowance recipients automatically qualify for the Carer's Support Grant, an annual payment of €1,700, which is not means-tested or taxed. Carer's Allowance recipients also qualify for Free Travel and, if they are living with the person they are caring for, the Household Benefits package.

The appropriate rates of income supports, including supports for carers, will be considered by Government in the context of the Budget, in light of available resources and other priorities. In this regard, each €1 increase in the weekly rate of Carer's Allowance (including proportionate increases for qualified adults) is estimated to cost €3.3 million in 2019. This cost is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019.