The carers allowance is to be extended to those caring for severely disabled children for the first time and will come into effect in August 1999, the Minister for Social, Community and Family affairs, Mr Ahern announced yesterday.
The new category will mean the scheme will be extended to an extra 2,200 carers.
Children between the ages of two and 16 who were severely physically or mentally disabled receive a Domiciliary Care Allowance administered by the health boards, the Minister said. The extension of the carers allowance to include this group would mean that all carers providing full-time care and attention to a child in receipt of a Domiciliary Care allowance would now be eligible to receive the allowance, subject to a means test. It would come into effect in August 1999 at an estimated cost of £10 million.