John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a decision relative to a claim for domiciliary care allowance and carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied). [38979/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned applied for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) in respect of her two sons. These applications were referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the children were not medically eligible for the Allowance. She was notified of the decision on 19th August 2011 and has since appealed the decisions. Currently, one appeal is being reviewed by one of the Department's Medical Assessors and the second appeal has been sent to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for their consideration.

Carer's Allowance can be paid to persons providing full-time care to a child with a disability provided the child is in receipt of DCA and the applicant satisfies a means test. An application for Carer's Allowance was received from the person concerned on 31st May 2011 in respect of her two sons. This application was refused on 8th November as neither child is in receipt of DCA. The person concerned was notified of the decision and informed of her right to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.