Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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3. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8647/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is a condition for receipt of a carer’s allowance (CA) that the persons being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. The assessment is based on the requirement for care arising from the disability(ies) and not on the diagnosis(es) of the person being cared for. The requirement for full-time care is further 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 person concerned is in receipt of CA in respect of her son since 11 September 2008. She applied for CA in respect of her daughter on 14 February 2014.

This application was refused on the grounds that the disability of the care recipient was not such there was a requirement for full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations.

The person concerned was notified on 29 September 2014 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals office for determination. An Appeals Officer (AO), having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal.

The person concerned was notified on 16 June 2015 of the AO’s decision and was provided at that time with an explanation of the basis for this decision to disallow the appeal.

The person concerned re-applied for CA in respect of her daughter on 13 October 2015.

All 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 11 January 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.