Can I take it from the Minister's reply that he intends to abolish the prescribed relative allowance? In that event can the Minister inform the House as to what type of alternative allowance will a person who provides full time care and attention for an elderly person receive or what they will qualify for?

In the first instance, the prescribed relative allowance, as I have said, is paid direct to the elderly person. The amount which the elderly person receives in respect of the prescribed relative is £26.40 a week at present.

Can the Minister inform the House as to what type of allowance the person who provides full time care and attention would qualify for in the event of the abolition of the prescribed relative allowance?

The Deputy is getting very technical.

It was the Minister who referred to the abolition of the prescribed relative allowance.

I referred to that possibility because the Commission on Social Welfare made a proposal to that effect. It is not possible for me to know what the circumstances of the people involved would be in the event of such a situation but I would need notice of a question such as that.