Carers to receive €1,700 Respite Grant this week
Full time carers will receive the annual Respite Care Grant of €1,700 this week to allow them to get some respite for themselves or the person they are caring for, according to local Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney. 02/06/2010Deputy Blaney paid tribute to the work done by carers throughout Donegal. “Carers make a massive contribution to society and they are more than deserving of this annual grant which allows them to get some respite for themselves or their person they care for.”
“Fianna Fáil has always prioritised providing for carers and this payment was introduced by the Government in 1999 and has increased from €254 to €1,700 in that time. This payment is made to all full time carers regardless of their means.”
“Over the past decade, qualifying conditions for the carer’s allowance has been significantly eased and coverage of the scheme has been extended, with new schemes such as half-rate carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit introduced and extended.”
“Some 71,000 carers will receive the grant this week around the country at a cost of €153 million.” “Society is indebted to people who dedicate their lives to care for others. The work they do enhances the quality of life of the person they are caring for and allows them to live in their own homes for longer. I want to pay tribute to the work done by carers in County Donegal,” concluded Niall Blaney TD.
