Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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289. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11214/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The application for carer’s allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 1 March 2017 and the first payment will issue to the person’s bank nominated post office on 9 March 2017.

Arrears of allowance due from 28 July 2016 to 8 March 2017 2017 were issued by cheque on 1 March 2017. The person concerned was notified of these details on 1 March 2017.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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290. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11215/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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291. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11216/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned applied for carer’s allowance (CA) on 15 April 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.

This application was disallowed on the grounds that she was not providing full-time care and attention because she was working outside the home in excess of 15 hours per week.

She was notified on 4 August 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

She appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination. An Appeals Officer (AO), having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal.

The person concerned was notified on 9 February 2017 of the AO’s decision and was provided at that time with an explanation of the basis for this decision.

Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an AO is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new facts. If the person concerned has any additional evidence or new facts they wish to be considered they should submit them to the carer’s allowance area of my Department which is based in Longford.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.