Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Collins referred to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The legislation was always the same. It refers to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 but the provision mentioned was there previously. I believe that is the reference she asked about but I will check that further for the Deputy.

Deputy O'Dea said the situation is getting more difficult and referred to the number of people involved and so on. The number in receipt of the carer's allowance payment in 2014 was 57,000. In February 2015, the figure was approximately 60,000, which represents an increase of approximately 5.3%. With respect to the long-term comparisons, the number of claims received in 2010 was 18,000, of which 8,700 were awarded, and the number of claims received in 2014 was 17,700, of which 12,500 were awarded. The facts and the figures refute what the Deputy has said. If anything, the figures show that in 2014 fewer people applied for benefit and more people were on it, compared to 2010 when more people applied for benefit and fewer people were awarded it.