Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1207. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be reached in the case of a person (details supplied) in respect of a carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34435/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 him. 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.

For these reasons, the applications for CA were disallowed.

The person concerned was notified on 29 March 2017 of the disallowances, the reasons for them and of her right of review and appeal.

My department were notified on 13 June 2017 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). A submission in support of the decision is being prepared and will shortly be forwarded along with the file to the SWAO for determination.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.