Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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280. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of carer’s allowance; how many of these are full-time (24/7) carers; how many are not full-time as they have other jobs (noting this is permitted up to 19 hours a week); and if she had considered a higher payment for full-time (24/7) carers relative to those who have other jobs in addition to being on carer’s allowance. [39729/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.

The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion this year.

The Carer’s Allowance scheme is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a financial support to people who cannot earn, or can only earn a limited income, due to their caring responsibilities. In 2024 the expenditure on the Carer’s Allowance scheme is estimated to be over €1.1 billion and there are currently 97,366 people receiving this payment.

The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and provided, and that a means test is satisfied. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months. The time spent providing care must not be less than 35 hours per week.

For eligibility purposes, my department defines all those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance as full-time carers, i.e. providing full time care and attention for not less than 35 hours per week. In this regard I am unable to advise the Deputy how many of these carers are providing care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In order to support connectivity with the workforce and broader social inclusion the carer payments provide flexibility in terms of allowing carers to engage in training, education or work of up to 18.5 hours per week. In effect, a carer can engage in these activities for half of a full-time working week and still be regarded as providing full-time care and attention by my department. During this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.

Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5 hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant schemes.

As part of Budget 2025, I was pleased to announce a further €12 increase to the full rate of both Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit. This is the fourth successive rise in weekly welfare rates under this Government and rates have increased by €41 over the last 4 years. Higher rates are available for those over 66 and those caring for more than 1 person.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person can receive fuel allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39730/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April to assist households with their energy costs.

The threshold for the fuel allowance means test for those aged over 70 increased from January 2024 to €512 for a single person and €1,024 for a couple without the need to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment.

An application for fuel allowance from the person concerned was received by my Department on 22 August 2024. It was decided on 17 September 2024 that the person concerned was not entitled to a fuel allowance as their weekly means of €1,113.75 exceeds the income threshold to qualify for fuel allowance.

If the person’s circumstances change, it is open to them to reapply for fuel allowance.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.