Up to 116,000 carers in Ireland are to benefit from a support grant this week, it has been announced.
All carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability can avail of the €1,700 grant.
The annual grant is available to carers regardless of their means or social insurance contributions.
Announcing the news on Thursday morning, Minister Regina Doherty said: "I am very pleased to have been able to allocate €218 million for the Carer’s Support Grant this year which will benefit some 116,000 carers.
"It will be paid automatically to approximately 110,000 people receiving the Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, and Domiciliary Care Allowance.
"It is also available to an estimated 6,000 full-time carers who are not in receipt of these payments. I urge these carers to apply for this grant.
"It is not means-tested and is assessed on the level of care being provided by the carer."
Around 9,000 of those who are providing care for more than one person will receive the grant for each person being cared for.
The closing date for applications for the 2019 Grant is December 31, 2020.
