January 2009

CUT TO CARER’S ALLOWANCE WON’T MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE – INCLUSION IRELAND

“Carers save the public coffers millions every year, it doesn’t make economic sense to cut benefits to carers”, says Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll. “64% of people with an intellectual disability live at home. Places in residential services cost the state at least €70,000 a year. If carers weren’t at home providing care, the state would have to pay. If any benefits to carers are cut, carers may have no choice but to stop caring at home.”

Ms. Carroll made these comments following Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin’s suggestion that the half rate carer’s allowance may be cut. Inclusion Ireland strongly welcomed the introduction of the half rate carer’s allowance in 2007, saying it was particularly important for widows who have children with a disability. Inclusion Ireland had campaigned for it since the 1990s.

“Minister Hanafin’s statement that carers are an ‘obvious target’ and that the introduction of the half-rate carer’s allowance was a sign that ‘when we had the money, we gave it to as many people as possible’, seriously disrespects the valuable contribution of carers, not least in economic terms.

“Inclusion Ireland believes the current support system for carers does not go far enough, and to diminish support to carers would have a serious effect on the quality of people’s lives and would increase the strain on the healthcare system. As things stand, the current criteria effectively rules out payment of a full carer’s allowance to the majority of family carers in Ireland. The issue of support for carers is constantly raised from the floor at Inclusion Ireland AGMs.

“64% of people with an intellectual disability currently live at home (16,366 out of a total population of 25,613). Residential care for one person with an intellectual disability costs at least €70,000 per year, and can be up to €300,000. The bottom line is carers save Irish tax payers millions every year. To take away what little financial support the state gives carers would force more carers to put their loved ones into state care and would end up costing the state more. In monetary terms there is no comparison, and the benefit of staying in the family home is immeasurable.”

ENDS 

Note to Editors:

The Half Rate Carers Allowance was introduced in 2007. The changes meant that if an individual was in receipt of certain social welfare payments and providing full-time care and attention to another person, they could keep their main social welfare payment and receive a Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance also.  At present, if an individual satisfies the conditions for Carers Allowance, they are awarded at 50% of the rate that would apply if they were not getting any other payment. Individuals in receipt of the Half Rate Carers Allowance are also eligible for the Respite Care Grant, Household Benefits Package and the Travel Pass. Minister Hanafin made the above quoted comments in an interview with the Sunday Business Post on 11th January 2009.

 

ENDS

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