Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the take-up of the enhanced carer’s support grant for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35342/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2021 measures, the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) was increased to €1,850 from €1,700.

In June 2021, almost 117,700 carers received a grant automatically, which represents an increase of 3,700 compared to 114,000 grants paid in June 2020.

Some 12,200 carers who are providing care for two or more people received a grant in respect of each person they are caring for, compared to 11,280 in 2020.

The Carers support grant remains open for applications so it would be expected that further grants will issue over the coming months. For example, just over 116,800 CSG grants issued in total for 2020 up the end of December 2020.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the take-up of parent’s leave and parent’s benefit since the extension was announced on 1 April 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35336/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The number of Parents benefit claims created in the period from 1st April 2021 to 27th June 2021 was 15,391. In comparison, for the same period last year, the total number of Parents benefit claims received was 2,841.

It should be noted that while a claim may be awarded in one month, the leave and benefit could be availed of at a different time, or over a period of months, as it is available to use one week at a time.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.