Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) will be determined; if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28333/18]

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 the 20 February 2018.

CA is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability 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.

As the applicant is a self-employed farmer, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 9 April 2018 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.

Enquiries by the SWI are continuing. 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.