Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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621. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the habitual residency condition for the carer's allowance in view of the fact that it acts as a barrier to persons returning here to care for a loved one. [37619/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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All applicants for carers' allowance, regardless of nationality, are required to be habitually resident in the State in order to qualify for the allowance. The requirement to establish that a person is habitually resident for the purpose of claiming certain categories of Social Welfare Allowances is governed by requirements in EC Regulation 883/2004 and its implementing Regulation 987/2009.

The Habitual Residence Condition (HRC) helps protect Ireland's social welfare system, while at the same time ensuring that those who have an entitlement have access to supports when they are needed.

There are no plans to review the position in relation to the application of the HRC to carer's allowance at this time.