Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance received by him in each of the past five years to date in 2011; the numbers approved; the numbers rejected; the degree if any to which the qualification guidelines changed during that period to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3816/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance received by him in each of the past five years to date in 2011; the number granted, refused or referred to appeal in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3818/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 373 together.

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) has been the responsibility of this Department since April 2009, statistics prior to this date are a matter for the HSE who administered the scheme up to that point. The qualifying conditions have not changed in the time that the scheme has been administered by this Department and remain broadly in line with what were operated by the HSE. The significant changes to the operation of the scheme with the transfer from the HSE included giving the scheme a legislative basis, the removal of the means test that applied to the child and a change to the assessment process to determine the level of additional care that the child's disability requires, this is now done by way of a desk assessment.

In 2009, a total of 3,389 applications were received, 1,078 applications were awarded, including 47 on review on the basis of additional information received. 1,792 were disallowed and 836 appeals received.

In 2010, a total of 5457 applications were made. 2697 applications were awarded, including 639 awarded on review, 3275 applications were disallowed in the year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer's allowance received by him in each of the past five years to date in 2011; the numbers approved; the numbers rejected; the degree if any to which the qualification guidelines changed during that period to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3817/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Carer's Allowance is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full time care and attention to elderly people or to people with disabilities and whose income falls below certain limits.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out below in tabular format.

*to the 14 January 2011 The following are changes to the qualification guidelines from 2006 to date.

On the 1st of June 2006 the amount of hours a carer was permitted to work outside the home per week was increased from ten hours to fifteen hours.

In Budget 2007, the Minister provided for new arrangements whereby people in receipt of certain social welfare payments, who are also providing full time care and attention, will be able to retain their main welfare payment and receive, depending on their means, half rate carer's allowance. This was introduced on the 27th September 2007.

The means test for carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. In April 2006 the income disregard increased from €540 to €580 per week for a couple. In April 2007 it increased to €640 per week for a couple. Since April 2008 the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple

There have been no other changes to the qualification guidelines from 2006 to date, apart for rate changes in accordance with the budget each year.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years in receipt of jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3914/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years in receipt of jobseeker's benefit for less than six months and less than 12 months, for more than 12 months and less than 24 months and those in receipt of this payment for more than 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3915/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for less than six months, for between six months and less than 12 months, for more than 12 months and less than 24 months and those in receipt of this payment for more than 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3916/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years in receipt of jobseeker's credits only, for less than six months and less than 12 months, for more than 12 months and less than 24 months and those in receipt of this payment for more than 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3917/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 377, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tabular statement.

The number of persons under 25 years in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit is 9,886, Jobseeker's Allowance is 58,831 or claiming Credits Only is 346, making a total of 69,063.

The total number of persons on the Live Register who are under 25 years of age is 81,280. This includes people claiming Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance whose claims have not yet been decided or whose payments have been suspended.

Numbers of Persons under 25 years in receipt of payment at week ending 02/01/2011

Questions Nos. 378 to 380, inclusive, answered with Question No. 363.