Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review an application for a respite care grant by a person (details supplied), noting the exceptional circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42088/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Respite Care Grant is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. The care provided must be for a continuous period of at least 6 months in the year in question and include the due date of the Grant – the first Thursday in June. During this care period all of the scheme conditions, which are legal requirements, must be met. One of these conditions is that the carer is not employed outside the home for more than 15 hours a week. Statements completed by the two different employers of the person concerned show that she works for a minimum of 17 hours a week and no new information to contradict this has been provided by the carer.

A further condition is that the carer is not in receipt of a Jobseekers payment during the care period. The person concerned was in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit up to 3 January 2015 and from 29 June 2015 onwards.

A decision, with right of appeal, was sent to the person, on 18 November 2015.