Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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670. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of a carer's allowance application submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in making a decision on this application due to the fact that the application has been lodged since June 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50556/17]

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 11 July 2017 in respect of two care recipients.

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.

As the applicant is engaged in farming, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 11 October 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.

Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.