Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

86. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the criteria for the awarding of the carer's support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38851/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Through the commitments contained in both the Programme for Government and in the National Carers’ Strategy, the Government recognises the crucial role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support through a range of supports and services. The main income supports provided by my Department include carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance, carer's allowance and the carer's support grant. Spending on these payments in 2018 is expected to amount to almost €1.2 billion.

The Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Prescribed Relative’s Allowance. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention are also eligible and can apply for the grant. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the period of full-time care and attention must last for at least six months. This period of care must include the first Thursday in June.

The CSG, as an annual payment in a single lump sum with no requirement to satisfy a means test, is not available for any other group nor is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe.

While my Department keeps the qualifying criteria for schemes under regular review, any changes to qualifying criteria would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.