Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 30 June 2022. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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642. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if children over the age of 16 years who are in receipt of a disability allowance payment and still attending second level education, are entitled to a back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance; if they will also benefit from the waiving of school bus fares for the 2022/2023 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37799/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.

The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.

To qualify for the allowance a person must meet a number of conditions namely:

* The child must meet the age criteria.

* The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September.

* The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits.

* The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.

Children who are in receipt of social protection payments in their own right, for example Disability Allowance, will not qualify for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment.

Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local Community Welfare Service. There is a National CWS Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

The Minister for Education has announced the School Transport Scheme will be free of charge for all ticket holders for the academic year 2022/2023. Any questions in relation to the operation of the scheme should be directed to that Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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643. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the charges for a mains water connection to the home of a pensioner (details supplied) in County Kerry are eligible for an exceptional needs or additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37898/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The ENP is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

ENPs are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has a primary responsibility. The person concerned should be advised to engage with her Local Authority and Irish Water and if necessary, the Commissions for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Under the Rural Water programme, there are grants available to improve a person’s private water supply in rural areas where they cannot access the public water supply. A private water supply provides water to one house and is often a well.

If the person concerned has exhausted all other options for resolving the matter and can confirm that there is no financial assistance available from another Government Department or Agency, it is open to her to make an ENP application.

An application for assistance can be made by completing a SWA1 form, which is widely available. This form can be downloaded at www.gov.ie and is available at all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also now be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie or by calling the CWS national phoneline at 0818 60 70 80. The completed application form and supporting documentation can be posted or dropped into the Intreo Centre where it will be processed promptly.

I trust this clarifies the matter.