To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the 'dementia tax’ faced by carers of dementia patients, to cover expenses directly related to their needs, but only partly covered by the Health Service or local council funding.

Unlike the rest of the UK, Northern Ireland has an integrated health and social care service, and services for people with dementia are provided by Health and Social Care Trusts.

Trusts do not charge for domiciliary care services, or full costs for meals, transport or day care.

However, there is undoubtedly an additional cost associated with any disability, and with “caring” in general. In recognition of this, and in addition to arranging social care support services, Trusts can also provide financial assistance to any carers who are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of their caring role. In the 2012/13 financial year, for example, some 1,938 “one-off” Carers’ Grants were provided to individual carers by Trusts across Northern Ireland.