Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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325. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason she will not relax the habitual residence rule for those returning here to care for relatives and who seek carer's allowance; if she will cite the relevant EU directive that her Department has previously cited as a block to this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42131/13]

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.