Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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873. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all social welfare payments will remain in payment while essential travel for three weeks for health reasons takes place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20532/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

As is the case with most other means-tested social welfare payments, CA is not payable on an extended basis to or in respect of persons outside the State, although legislation provides for the payment of carer’s allowance when a person leaves the State on a temporary basis for the specific purpose of accompanying a care recipient while that person is receiving treatment. 

If the person concerned is leaving the State for three weeks due to her care recipient receiving treatment she will be entitled to continued payment of CA while she is out of the state.

The person concerned will be required to furnish travel documents such as boarding passes for the outbound and inbound journey before she leaves the state. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.