Disability group: Carer cuts won’t work
Intellectual disability group Inclusion Ireland, which represents more than 25,000 families across the mental health spectre, has warned that despite Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin’s comments last week that the half-rate carers allowance was an “obvious target” for budget cuts, there is “no economic sense” in reducing the payments.
According to the group, at least 16,000 people with intellectual disabilities are cared for at home by their families, many of whom do not qualify for a full-rate carers allowance.
As a result, Inclusion Ireland chief executive Deirdre Carroll said that any plans “to take away what little financial support” is available would result in thousands of people across the country being left with no option but to put their relative into State care.
“Carers save the public coffers millions every year. It doesn’t make economic sense to cut benefits to carers,” explained Ms Carroll.
“Sixty-four percent of people with an intellectual disability — 16,366 out of a total population of 25,613 — 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.
“Inclusion Ireland believes the current support system does not go far enough. As things stand, the current criteria effectively rules out payment of a full carers allowance to the majority of family carers in Ireland.
“The bottom line is carers save Irish taxpayers millions every year,” she added.
Under the current system, anyone under the age of 66 who provides care for one person and who has a private weekly income under €332.50 is entitled to a €220.50 allowance.
The figure rises to €330.75 if the individual cares for two or more people, €239 for a carer over the age of 66, and €358.50 for a pensioner caring for two or more people.
The half-rate carers allowance, which Ms Hanafin has suggested may be targeted by An Bord Snip Nua, involves a €110.25 payment to anyone under the age of 66 who is caring for one person, rising to €165.37 if the care is provided to more than one person, with €119.50 and €179.25 for a carer of pensionable age caring for one or more person respectively.
The half-rate carers allowance was introduced in September 2007.
The key priority of the move was to allow individuals in receipt of certain social welfare payments who were providing full-time care to another person could keep their main social welfare payment and receive the half-rate payment.
