Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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151. 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [17423/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person/persons and whose income falls below certain limits.

The Department informs me that, to date, no application by the person concerned for CA has been received.

Accordingly, I have arranged for an application form (CR1) to issue, which the person concerned should complete and return as soon as possible, in order that the Department may determine their entitlement to CA. If the person in question has already submitted an application in the past few days, there is no need to re-submit a new application and the Department will be in touch in relation to the application in due course.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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152. 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 7 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications.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, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare support for the couple.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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153. 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [17426/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 14 June 2016 and the first payment is due to issue to the person’s nominated bank account on 23 June 2016.

Arrears of allowance due from 21 January 2016 have issued by cheque. The person concerned was notified of these details on 14 June 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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154. 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [17427/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 29 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. 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, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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155. 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [17428/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Carer’s allowance (CA) is in payment to the person concerned since 14 August 2003 in respect of one care recipient.

I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 10 November 2015 in respect of two further care recipients.

It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention. It is a further condition that the person being cared for must require full-time care and attention.

The evidence submitted in support of these applications was examined and a deciding officer (DO) decided that the person in question was not entitled to CA on the grounds that neither of these conditions was satisfied in respect of both additional care recipients.

The person concerned was notified on 16 March 2016 of these decisions, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned has requested a review and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The DO who is carrying out the review has referred the applications to a local social welfare investigative officer (SWI) to prepare a report on all the circumstances in order to assist the DO with his/her review of the disallowance decision. Once the SWI has completed his/her report and submitted it to the DO the review will be completed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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156. 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [17429/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 24 February 2016. Additional information in relation to the person’s application, which was omitted, has been requested by a deciding officer. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.