Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when payment of the carer's allowance will commence for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when the arrears due will issue to them; and when they will receive the household benefits package. [30211/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is awarded Carer's Allowance with effect from 1 June 2006. He had previously been refused carer's allowance on the grounds that he was engaged in employment for more than ten hours per week. The limit on the number of hours of employment was raised to fifteen hours with effect from 1st June 2006, enabling the person concerned to qualify from that date.

As he is assessed with means of €52.31 derived from income from farming and income from his spouse's employment, his weekly rate of carer's allowance is €135. He also qualifies for child dependent allowance of €42 per week. His payable order books will be available for collection at his local post office on 28 September 2006.

A cheque for arrears of allowance due for the period 1 June 2006 to 27 September 2006 in the amount of €4,209 is in course of issue and includes the Respite Care Grant for 2006 of €1,200. The person concerned has also qualified for a free travel pass. His entitlement to the Household Benefits package will be assessed on receipt of the completed application form which was forwarded directly to him.