Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the refusal of a respite care grant for 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14859/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Respite Care Grant is paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carers Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Prescribed Relative’s Allowance. Carers who are not in receipt of one of the above payments, may qualify for the stand alone Grant, subject to satisfying certain conditions.

One of these conditions is that the carer provides the ill person with full-time care and attention for a continuous period of at least 6 months. This care period must include the due date of the Grant – the 1st Thursday in June of the year in question. During this time the carer cannot be in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment or sign for Jobseeker’s credits.

The person concerned was in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance from March 2014 until 24th July 2014, when he was awarded Carer’s Allowance. His application for the 2014 Grant was accordingly refused. A written decision, with right of appeal was sent to him on 10 March 2015.