Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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306. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding eligibility for carer’s benefit with regard to the number of PRSI contributions required to trigger eligibility; the category of PRSI contributions that qualify in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5565/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Over 135,000 carers benefit from regular income supports and combined spending on these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion. The value of income transfers to family carers has increased by over 50% since 2015.

Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person may be eligible for Carer's Benefit if they have enough PRSI contributions. Carer’s Benefit is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for. It can be taken in one block or in separate periods as long as the combined total does not exceed 104 weeks. The current weekly rate is €225.00.

To be eligible for Carer’s Benefit, a person must have at least 156 contributions paid at any time between their entry into insurance and the time they make a claim for Carer's Benefit. They must have:

- 39 contributions paid in the relevant tax year or

- 39 contributions paid in the 12-month period before the start of Carer's Benefit or

- 26 contributions paid in the relevant tax year and 26 contributions paid in the year before that.

The relevant tax year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which a claim is made. So, for claims made in 2022, the relevant tax year is 2020.

PRSI contributions at Class A, B, C, D, H and E are counted towards Carer's Benefit.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review. However, any improvements or additions to these supports can only be considered in an overall budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.

I hope this clarifies the matter.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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307. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the decision the appeals office made for a claim for carer's benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5576/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 26 January 2022.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.