Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will urgently review the financial assessment element of the carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5359/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance 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.

Means for the purpose of this payment comprises any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could provide them with monies or an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.

The person concerned is in receipt of Carers Allowance in respect of her care recipient since 12 January 2017. No means were assessed against the person concerned at the time of the application. Claims in payment are subject to periodic review to ensure that there is a continued entitlement to payment.

The means test for Carer's Allowance is one of the most generous in the social protection system. Currently, €332.50 of gross weekly income is disregarded in the calculation of means for a single person; the equivalent for a person who is married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting is €665 of combined gross weekly income.

In this particular case, a means review was initiated in September 2021. The outcome of this means review, based on the information available to the deciding officer, determined that the person concerned had assessable means from employment of €215.58 once the current disregard of €665 was applied. This resulted in a new rate of €58.00 effective 20 January 2022.

The person concerned was notified on 17 January 2022 of this outcome, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal. To date, the Department has not received a request for a review or an appeal. My officials will arrange for a review of the decision based on the information provided by the Deputy. They will notify the person concerned directly of the outcome of the review once it is completed. It is also open to the person concerned to submit an appeal of the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

As part of Budget 2022, I was pleased to be able to announce additional measures which will allow carers to have a higher weekly household income and a higher level of savings, and still qualify for a Carer's Allowance payment. These measures, which will take effect from June 2022, include an increase in the income disregard from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple. In addition, the amount of capital disregarded in the means test will be increased from €20,000 to €50,000. These significant changes will mean more carers will now qualify for the payment while those in receipt of a reduced payment will also see increases.

In advance of June 2022, my officials will be reviewing entitlement for those currently on a reduced rate of Carer's Allowance, including the person concerned, to take account of the new budget measures. Any change will be automatically applied to the Carer's Allowance payment of the person concerned from June 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the findings outlined in the Cost of Disability report; the way social protection payments will be reformed to support persons with a disability; the timeline for this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5328/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The cost of disability is significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that it will not be addressed through income support alone.

The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports so a whole-of-Government perspective is needed. As such the Government has referred the report on the Cost of Disability to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability.

This Group has oversight of monitoring the key frameworks for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities. It will consider and monitor actions required by the various Government Departments on a bi-annual basis.

All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implemented and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.

From the perspective of my Department, it is worth noting that a number of measures were introduced as part of Budget 2022 in relation to people with disabilities and their carers, which will go some way towards alleviating the financial costs experienced. These include a combination of core weekly payment rate increases, increases in earnings disregards as well as supports to employers.

Under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion my Department has a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. I have asked my officials to revisit the ‘strawman’ proposal to take on board the findings in the research. The associated timelines will be reviewed in the context of National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group reporting mechanism.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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93. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the application process for the domiciliary care allowance with a view to lessening the burden on struggling carers particularly the cumbersome and onerous eight page form for each specialist consultant the child attends which currently must be submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5473/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability.

Applicants for Domiciliary Care Allowance are required to complete a DomCare 1 application form, which details their child's disability and resultant medical and additional care needs. In addition to this form an applicant can, if they wish, supply further evidence, medical or otherwise, and this can include reports from specialists or other professionals who know the child and their individual needs.

There is no compulsion to provide additional evidence or information but such information can assist the Department's medical assessors and deciding officers to make the appropriate decision on the application at the earliest date possible and reduce the need for further reviews and appeals.

The Department regularly reviews scheme application forms to ensure that they are as user friendly as possible.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.