Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to payment of rent subsidy, carer's or domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6291/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned has been requested to provide further information in order to process his application for rent supplement. A decision will be made on his application when the requested information has been provided. 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. To qualify for carer's allowance in respect of a person under 16 years of age domiciliary care allowance must be in payment in respect of them.

As with other social assistance schemes, a means test is applied to the carer's allowance to ensure that limited resources are directed to those in greatest need. The income of both the applicant and his/her spouse/partner is assessable as means in determining entitlement. In order to qualify for carer's allowance the carer must satisfy a number of conditions including: be aged 18 or over; satisfy a means test; be caring for the person on a full-time basis; not be employed or self-employed for more than 15 hours outside the home; not be living in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution; and satisfy the habitual residence condition.

In order to assess a person's entitlement to carer's allowance it is necessary for them to complete an application form. If the person in question makes an application for carer's allowance their entitlement will be considered. A person signing for credits can be considered for carer's allowance and may be entitled provided all conditions are met.

Domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of children who have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. The care and attention received must be given by another person, effectively full-time so that the child can deal with the normal activities of daily life. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

Eligibility for DCA is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting lack of function of body or mind necessitating the degree of extra care and attention required. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking account of the evidence submitted by the applicant. The person in question may make an application for DCA at any time they wish and their entitlement will be considered.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be awarded their rent subsidy allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6298/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned has been requested to provide further information in order to process her application for rent supplement. A decision will be made on her application when the requested information has been provided.