Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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442. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on family carers being excluded from the recently announced payment of recognition of €1,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3601/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Health, last week confirmed the payment of a Covid Recognition Payment as a once off, tax-free payment of €1,000, ringfenced to certain workers ordinarily onsite in COVID-19-exposed healthcare environments. The workers eligible for the payment will be:

- public service health and ambulance workers,

- those seconded or assigned to the HSE (for example: Defence Forces staff seconded/assigned to HSE testing centres),

- supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

- staff in private sector nursing homes and Hospices affected by COVID-19.

This payment is not under the responsibility of my Department.

The key role of the Department of Social Protection is that of income support. The main income supports to carers provided by my Department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2022 is expected to be in excess of €1.5 billion.

Despite the substantial extra financial demands due to the COVID-19 crisis, I increased the Carer’s Support Grant by €150 to a rate of €1,850. This is the highest rate since its introduction. The annual grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. This award can be used for any purpose at the discretion of the carer and it is not taxed. Recipients of Carer's Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance receive the grant automatically. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention to someone who requires that level of care are also eligible and can apply for a grant.

Furthermore, in acknowledging the crucial role that family carers play in our society I introduced a number of measures as part of Budget 2022 in relation to supports provided by my Department. These include:

- €5 increase in maximum rate of all core weekly payments including carers, with effect from January.

- €3 increase for qualified child dependants aged 12 and over and €2 for those up to age 12, in all core weekly payments.

- An increase in the Capital/Savings disregard for Carer’s Allowance from €20,000 to €50,000 from June.

- An increase in the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance to €350 a week for single carers and to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner, also from June.

- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be paid for children who go into hospital for up to 6 months (currently 3 months). Carer’s Allowance will also continue to be paid in respect of children who go into hospital for 6 months. This will take effect in January.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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443. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of providing family carers with a once-off payment of €1,000 in recognition of their work and hardship over the pandemic. [3602/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The cost of paying a once off €1,000 bonus to family carers would be dependent on eligibility criteria for the proposed payment.

Paying the bonus to all carers in receipt of the Carer's Support Grant would cost an estimated €128.3m.

This costing is based on the the estimated number of recipients in 2022 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.