Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a review of eligibility for carer's benefit can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37638/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Carer's benefit is a payment for insured people who have recently left the workforce and are providing full-time care and attention to certain people who 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 and that their earnings from employment or gross income from self-employment less expenses necessarily incurred, does not exceed €332.50 weekly.

I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person concerned on 4 July 2016. The application was refused on the grounds that the person concerned was engaged in employment outside the home with earnings in excess of €332.50 per week.

She was notified on 12 November 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

If she has now reduced her hours of employment to the extent that her earnings are less than €332.50 weekly, she should forward evidence of this and her entitlement can be re-examined.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.