John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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26. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to enhance supports for family carers from her Department in view of the extraordinary contribution carers make; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5084/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.

Despite the 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 Grant was automatically paid to people in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care allowance in June.

In acknowledgement of 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. Measures announced directly benefitting family carers 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.

- €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance from €28 to €33 per week, from 12 October 2021.

- 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.

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

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. Any further improvements to these supports can only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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27. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in 2019, 2020 and 2021 who availed of the dental benefits under the treatment benefits scheme operated by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5475/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependant spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

In order to qualify a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.

The number of claims for dental benefit in the period requested are detailed below:

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the various supports available from her Department under the treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5382/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

In order to qualify, a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.

The following are the entitlements under each of the schemes.

Under the dental benefit scheme, a qualified person can get a free examination and a subsidised dental cleaning once per year.

Under the optical scheme, they can get a free examination, together with free or subsidised spectacles/contact lenses every two years. Repairs to spectacles are also covered.

The medical appliance scheme provided for a 500 euro grant towards the purchase of up to two hearing aids or medically required contact lenses every 4 years.

Upcoming changes to the Treatment benefit scheme will see the contribution requirement for those aged 25-29 changing to make it easier to qualify. In addition the frequency period for medically required contact lenses will change from 4 to 2 years.

A new option will be introduced under the medical appliances scheme from June 2022, with the introduction of a hair replacement grant for those who have lost their hair due to illness or treatment of an illness.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her Department’s support for carers; when the changes in respect of the carer’s allowance will take effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5393/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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 exceed €1.5 billion.

In acknowledgement of 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 the following changes to the Carer's Allowance means test which will take effect in June:

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

- An increase in the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance from €332.50 to €350 a week for single carers and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.

In addition, the following changes relating to carers were also announced and came into effect from January:

- €5 increase in maximum rate of all core weekly payments including carer's payments.

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

- Domiciliary Care Allowance is now paid for children who go into hospital for up to 6 months (formerly 3 months). Where applicable, Carer’s Allowance will also continue to be paid in respect of children who go into hospital for 6 months.

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. Any further improvements to these supports can only be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.