Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which a person (details supplied) was refused a carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29177/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 7 February 2017.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer must provide full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. Social welfare legislation defines a person as requiring full time care and attention where the person has such a disability that s/he requires

a) continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions, or

b) continual supervision in order to avoid danger to himself/herself.

The exact amount of hours or days for which care must be provided is not defined. However, one of the tests to decide if full-time care and attention is being provided is whether the care given addresses the above issues.

My Department takes the view that full-time care and attention does not necessarily mean 24 hours in each day. Full-time care and attention can be considered to apply where there is an ongoing and daily commitment by the carer and which also generally results in the carer not being able to support themselves through normal full-time employment.

The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on the grounds that, based on the evidence available to the Deciding Officer in the case, she was not providing full-time care and attention as required. The person concerned was notified on 2 May 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. To date, no request for a review or appeal has been received from the person concerned.

If the person concerned wishes to provide further information on the hours of care she is providing, her case will be reviewed. To date, there has been no new information submitted which would warrant a review of the decision made in this case.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.