Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current waiting time for applications for carer’s allowance; the number of persons awaiting a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4074/22]

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.

The average number of weeks to award new CA applications was 5 weeks at the end of December 2021. There were 1,459 applications awaiting decision at that date.

My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. There are currently no delays in processing claims once all the necessary information is provided.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.