Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application by a person (details supplied) has not been decided in view of the fact that the application has been submitted since 16 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29354/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

Where entitlement cannot be determined based on the information submitted with an application, it is referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.

In this case there are two separate applications for CA claiming the provision of full-time care and attention to the same care recipient. One application is from the person concerned and the other is from another individual.

Neither applicant has mentioned the other on their application and both have denied that any person other than themselves is providing care to the care recipient.

It is on this basis that the matter was referred to a SWI on 19 May 2016. A completed report is to be returned to the Carer’s Allowance section in the next week and a decision will then be made without delay. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.