Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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584. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41702/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 29 November 2016.

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.

As the applicant is a self-employed, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 12 January 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.

Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made 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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585. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41703/16]

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 20 October 2016.

The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 13 December 2016 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made 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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586. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41704/16]

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 8 November 2016.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer’s means must be less that the statutory limit. It is a further condition that the carer must be providing full-time care and attention.

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.

This application was disallowed on the grounds that neither condition was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 10 January 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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587. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41705/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On review of the further evidence, carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 11 January 2017. The first payment is due to issue to her nominated bank account on 19 January 2017. Arrears of allowance due from 15 September 2016 to 11 January 2017 have also issued.

The person concerned was notified of these details on 11 January 2017.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.