Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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207. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and the person advised regarding same; if the case will be viewed as an exceptional case by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37801/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.  It is payable for a maximum of 104 weeks for each person being cared for.

The Deputy states that the person concerned recently applied for carers and was refused on the grounds that her last stamp wasn’t paid here. Although periods of insurance in another EU member state may be taken into account to meet the PRSI contribution conditions, the last week of insurance must be paid in Ireland.

Before a decision can be made on entitlement to CARB, evidence must be provided in respect of the care recipient’s care requirement, the level of care the carer provides, the carer’s hours of employment and their PRSI record. 

The PRSI contribution condition requires that the carer must have the following:

- 39reckonable contributions in the relevant tax year or

- 39 reckonable contributions paid in the 12-month period before the start of CARB or

- 26 reckonable contributions paid in the Relevant Tax Year and 26 contributions paid in the year before that.

As my Department has limited details of the person concerned it is not possible to provide a specific answer in relation to the person concerned.  Should the Deputy wish to receive further information to the person concerned please note the identifying details of that person should be supplied.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.