Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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13. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to facilitate an oral hearing to determine an entitlement of a person (details supplied) under the carer’s allowance scheme; if she will issue a basic payment in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8764/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Carer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to the person concerned from 15 April 2010 to 27 January 2016. The person concerned was notified on 24 March 2016 that her payment had been terminated as she had failed to co-operate, as she is required to, with a social welfare inspector (SWI) during the course of an investigation.

The person concerned has recently appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office (SWAO). The SWAO are an independent body and whether the appeal outcome is dealt with summarily or by oral hearing is a matter for the chief appeals officer (CAO). The person concerned may write to the CAO to request an oral hearing if s/he wishes.

Once all the necessary investigations have been carried out in relation to this appeal, the SWAO will be in contact with the person in question directly.

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.