Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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535. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times to process payment of the respite care grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53505/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Carer’s Support Grant is paid annually by my Department, on the 1^stThursday in June, to persons in receipt Carers Allowance or Carers Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Payment is on an automatic basis to these people. Over 90% of all payments of the grant are made on this date.

A carer who is not in receipt of one of these payments can still qualify for the grant, once they satisfy certain conditions. The waiting time for decision on claims for these payments of the grant is currently 18 weeks. Additional staff resources have recently been assigned to decisions in order to shorten the processing time.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.