The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is undertaking a review of the allowances paid to carers, the Minister, Mr Ahern, told the Dail. He said the Government was committed to progressively relaxing the qualifying criteria for the allowance to ensure that more carers could get benefit, and increase the value of the allowance in real terms. At the end of last August, 9,753 people were receiving the allowance at an estimated annual cost of £36.4 million, Mr Ahern added.

Asked by Mr Jim O'Keeffe (FG, Cork South-West) if the allowance should be extended to cover as far as possible all those caring for the elderly and disabled at home, the Minister said he had had detailed discussion with groups representing the disabled.