Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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25. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the Carer's Allowance Scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6597/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 13 January 2016. The department regrets to say that the time taken at present to decide a new CA application is running at 19 weeks. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.

Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.

This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from her local community welfare service.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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26. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she will issue a decision to a person (detail supplied) in County Clare under the Carer's Allowance Scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6599/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that the department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 August 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 9 December 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. Subsequently, additional evidence in support of this application was received in the Department and the application is currently under review. The person in question will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.