I propose to take Questions Nos. 1679, 1719 and 1736 together.
The carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to carers on low incomes who look after people in need of full-time care and attention.
As with all other social assistance schemes, a means test in which the income of both the applicant and his or her partner is assessable applies. The means test has been improved significantly in recent years, most notably with the introduction of disregards of income from employment and other sources. Provision was made in budget 2002 to increase the weekly income disregards to €191 for a single person and €382 for a couple from April. These disregards ensure that a couple with two children and earning a joint income in the region of €22,617 will qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance. Or they can earn up to €36,364 and still qualify for the minimum carer's allowance, plus the free schemes and respite care grant.
In addition to these disregards, where the spouse or partner of the carer is employed, the PRSI, union dues and superannuation elements of their earnings are disregarded. An allowance may also be made for travel expenses.
Rent and mortgage payments are not taken into account in determining means for carer's allowance purposes. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for a direct payment in the form of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent or mortgage interest to persons whose means are insufficient to meet their needs.
The primary objective of the social welfare system is to provide income support and, as a general rule, only one social welfare payment is payable to an individual. The carer's allowance is primarily an income support payment rather than a payment for caring. However, carers of more than one incapacitated person are entitled to an additional 50% of their rate of payment.