Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position on the removal of a carer's allowance from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2503/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Carer’s allowance (CA) can be paid to a person at half the normal rate where they are in receipt of certain social welfare payments.

The person concerned is in receipt of half rate Carer’s Allowance (CA) since 1 January 2009 as she was in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP).

Following a review of her entitlement to OFP, that payment to her ceased with effect from 10 September 2014.

The person concerned applied on 6 October 2015 to have her payment of CA increased to full rate. The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA have been satisfied since September 2014 and that they continue to be satisfied.

The SWI arranged an interview with the person concerned in December 2015 but she failed to attend as requested and failed to explain her non-attendance. I am informed that another date for a meeting with the SWI has been arranged.It is important that the person in question cooperates with this review of her eligibility. Once the SWI completes his/her investigation and reports to the deciding officer, a decision on the eligibility of the person in question for CA since September 2014 will be made and her payment will be adjusted accordingly.