Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

193. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which it might be concluded that two persons, one in their 90s and one in late 80s, are deemed insufficiently dependent to require a carer, as in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17335/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 15 December 2016 in respect of the provision of care to both her parents.

It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person(s) 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 being likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence, including a medical report, submitted in support of the application for CA for the mother of the person concerned was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence was insufficient to show that the requirement for full-time care and attention was satisfied.

There was no medical evidence submitted in support of the application for CA for the father of the person concerned. On 14 February 2017 a medical report was issued to be completed by a medical practitioner in respect of the father of the person concerned. To date it has not been returned.

It is also a condition for receipt of CA that the carer provides 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.

The person concerned was requested on 27 February 2017 to provide evidence to show that she was working outside the home for less than 15 hours per week. The required documents and evidence were not provided, which meant the deciding officer could not determine if the condition regarding the provision of full time care and attention was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 29 March 2017 of the disallowance of the applications for CA for both her parents, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal. If the person concerned now provides the requested information, the entitlement to CA will be re-examined.

Entitlement to CA is determined on evidence supplied and is never made solely on the age of an applicant.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the delivery of public health community and home care supports at local level, including the Home Care Package (HCP) scheme. The HCP scheme is an administrative scheme, operated by the HSE. CA can be paid in cases where a HCP is in place.

The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People announced in January that a consultation process is to be launched in the coming months with a view to establishing a new statutory homecare scheme. The consultation process will allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families and health care workers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.