Senator Maura Hopkins has welcomed the 2016 Carer’s Support Grant being fully restored to its previous level of €1,700.
This grant is paid to carers who are already in receipt of schemes like the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance.
Leo Varadkar, the Minister for Social Protection, said that 86,000 carers were due to receive the Carer’s Support Grant from last Thursday, June 2nd.
Senator Maura Hopkins said that this was formerly known as the Respite Care Grant and the payment had been reduced by €325 during the economic crisis.
“However, I am very pleased that this important grant has now been restored it to its previous level of €1,700,” Senator Hopkins said.
The grant is an annual payment available to all carers providing full-time care and attention to an older person or a child or adult with a disability, regardless of their means or PRSI contributions.
The estimated expenditure on the Carer’s Support Grant this year is €157.6 million, Minister Varadkar said.
The annual Carer’s Support Grant is paid in respect of each care recipient to take account of the additional cost of providing respite care for one or more recipients of care. Around 7,000 carers are currently taking care of two or more people.
