Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 17 November 2016, if a further review or appeal will be facilitated in respect of a carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2300/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An application for Carer's Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 5 October 2016.

It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and, finally, beimg likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

It is a further condition that the applicant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding the application.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied. In addition the applicant failed to furnish documentary evidence as to his financial resources which prevented a deciding officer from determining whether his means are less that the statutory limit.

On this basis it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA.

He was notified on 22 December 2016 of these decisions, the reasons for them and of his right of review and appeal.

One piece of information as to his means has recently been received but other items are still outstanding. Once all the evidence is submitted, a review will be completed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I note however that the care recipient is in receipt of a disablement pension for a loss of 60% faculty.

A constant attendance allowance (CAA) can be paid weekly as an increase to disablement pension (DISP), if the pensioner is so seriously disabled as to need someone (a relative or some other person) to help daily at home to attend to their personal needs for a period of at least 6 months. They must be getting a DISP of 50% or over.

CAA is not means tested and is payable at a higher rate than CA. I have arranged for an application form for CAA to issue to the carer’s wife. On its return, my Department will examine her entitlement to CAA.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.