James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appeal under the carer's allowance scheme will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42441/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to people who have a disability such that they require that level of care and who satisfy a means test.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

I confirm that the department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 1 September 2015.

The application was refused by a deciding officer on the grounds that the person concerned was working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week.

He was notified on 12 November 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal. There is no record of any CA review or appeal request being received in the department. If the person’s circumstances have changed, it is open to him to re-apply for CA at any time.