Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8127/21]

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.

I confirm that my Department received an application for CA in respect of two care recipients from the person concerned on 14 February 2020.

It was decided by a Deciding Officer (DO) that although the person concerned was providing a certain amount of care, the level provided was not considered to be full-time.

The person concerned was notified on 13 July 2020 of these decisions, the reasons for them and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision. Following this review the decision remained unchanged.

The person concerned appealed these decisions to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

The appeal was disallowed by the SWAO on 10 November 2020.

Following this, my Department received new applications for CA in respect of the two care recipients from the person concerned on 13 November 2020.

The applications were referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 19 November 2020 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA were satisfied.

The SWI is currently assessing the applications. Once the SWI has completed his investigation, a decision will be made without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.