Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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160. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will reinstate the payment to a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme, given the new information provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16581/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned was awarded carer’s allowance (CA) from 30 January 1997. It is a condition for receipt of CA that a carer must not be employed outside the home in excess of 15 hours in any week. Information received by my department indicated that the maximum hours permitted in relation to work outside the home may be being exceeded in the case of the person concerned.

The person concerned was notified on 20 May 2016 that payment was being stopped from 26 May 2016 until the question of continued entitlement could be established. Accordingly, the case was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) for confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of CA are and have been satisfied.

Information from the employer of the person concerned has been received by my department and, on foot of that information, CA is being restored to her with effect from 16 June 2016.

Once the SWI has reported in relation to the circumstances in the intervening period and prior, a deciding officer will review the entitlement and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of the review.