Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 824 of 21 March 2023, if consideration will be given to introducing a young carer’s grant, similar to the one introduced in Scotland in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15050/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government acknowledges the important role played by family carers, including young carers, and is fully committed to supporting them in that role.

The grant in Scotland is a yearly payment available for those who are 16, 17 or 18 year olds and caring on average 16 hours a week.

The Carer's Support Grant that my Department offers is already available to the same age-group and is, in fact, more generous that the one paid in Scotland. The Carer's Support Grant can be paid to a carer who has reached the age of 16 years. The grant is almost 5 times the value of the grant paid to young carers in Scotland and is not contingent on the the person or people you care for getting certain benefits themselves.

The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. As part of Budget Measures 2021, the rate of the grant was increased by €150. The new rate of €1,850 is the highest rate of the grant since its introduction. The grant can be used for any purpose at the discretion of the carer. It is not subject to means testing, nor does it require having social insurance contributions. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for to take account of the additional cost of providing care and to recognise the particular challenges faced by these carers.

As of February, the grant was paid to some 120,738 carers in respect of 135,670 care recipients. The overall cost of the grant in 2023 is expected to be over €268 million.

I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the commitment and challenges faced by carers, including young carers, and in this regard I announced a €500 Cost of Living lump sum payment for people receiving the Carer’s Support Grant, which was paid in November.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.