Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who had left work, applied for carer's benefit and was successful with that application, and who now two years later has attempted to move over to carer's allowance has been told that the person for whom the care is being provided does not need full-time care and attention when in fact the care recipient's condition has deteriorated in the intervening two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25314/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was previously in receipt of carer's benefit. A decision on medical eligibility was made at the time of his application for carer's benefit based on the medical evidence supplied. He subsequently applied for carer's allowance in respect of the same care recipient (caree). The department's Medical Assessor gave an opinion, based on the latest medical information supplied, that the caree no longer requires full time care and attention. On 10 May 2010 the person concerned was refused carer's allowance on those grounds. He was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review or appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Additional medical evidence was received from the person concerned and was forwarded to the department's Medical Assessor for consideration. However, this information did not alter the opinion of the Medical Assessor and the decision remains unchanged. On 4 June 2010 he was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason medical evidence that is sufficient for carer's benefit is not sufficient for carer's allowance; the number of carer's allowance claimants who were previously in receipt of carer's benefit who have been refused carer's allowance based on medical grounds, in tabular format, for each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25315/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To qualify for carer's benefit and carer's allowance, the person being cared for (the caree) must require full time care and attention. A decision on medical eligibility is made based on the medical evidence supplied at the time of relevant application.

The statistical information requested by the Deputy is attached. The table shows the number of applications for carer's allowance in respect of carees for whom carers benefit was previously paid, which are categorised as having been refused carer's allowance on medical grounds. Numbers refused on medical grounds in the past year