John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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77. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the most up to date figures on the refusal rates for those persons applying for a carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2768/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment made to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to someone who has a disability such that they require that level of care. As well as providing full-time care and attention, applicants must satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.

In November 2016, the latest month for which figures are available, 3,362 applications for CA were decided on. Of these, 1,255 were disallowed by a deciding officer as the qualifying criteria were not satisfied.

An application for CA can be disallowed because one or more of the qualifying conditions are not satisfied or because insufficient evidence is provided at application stage to establish the need for full-time care and attention or the means of the applicant.

Applicants are advised of their right to review or appeal when a decision is made on their entitlement and in many cases further evidence is subsequently submitted, leading to a revised decision to award CA.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.