Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for highlighting the issue. The average time to award carer's allowance after receipt of application in 2021 is four weeks, as compared with seven weeks in 2020 and 12 weeks in 2019. The average time to award carer's benefit after receipt of application in 2021 is four weeks, as compared with five weeks in 2020 and 12 weeks in 2019. Therefore, we are making good inroads and we want to continue to turn around those applications promptly. I know some people find themselves in very difficult circumstances, particularly if a family member is diagnosed with cancer. They need that support because they may need to give up their job.

Deputy Carroll MacNeill asked about domiciliary care allowance changes. She brought this important matter to my attention and I am glad we were able to do that. We are extending the period from 13 weeks to 16 weeks. A parent who was in receipt of carer's allowance will also continue to be paid for those six months while a child is in hospital. Therefore, it will continue and will not be cut off. I know that is a difficult time for parents who may have additional financial burdens. We want to encourage people to apply for it and we can use this House to highlight it. We will certainly get that information out to people that they do not need to worry about their carer's allowance being cut off.

I take the point Deputy O'Donnell made regarding the living alone allowance. I am very conscious of that. It has been highlighted in many reports to me. Every year, we have continued to increase the living alone allowance. The Deputy is right that a couple living together have a joint income and when one of them goes, all of a sudden the other finds a serious drop in income because it is more expensive for somebody living alone. We increased that both last year and again this year. I am very mindful of the issue which comes up every year when we get these reports. We must be conscious of people who are living alone. I was delighted we could increase it again in this year's budget.

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