Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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314. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress of an appeal regarding his Department's decision on a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30310/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Carer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to the person concerned up to 3 August 2016 in respect of two care recipients.

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.

A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.

Following a review, it was decided that the circumstances of the person concerned had changed and that she was no longer entitled to CA with effect from 1 January 2015, as she was working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week.

This decision created a debt owing to my department for the period from 1 January 2015 to 3 August 2016.

The person concerned was notified on 30 August 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review or appeal.

The person concerned has requested a review. As part of that review, additional information was requested from the person concerned on 4 October 2016. Once the information is received, the review will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.