Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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636. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for domiciliary care allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54267/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability or condition and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

An application for DCA was received from the person concerned in respect of their child on 14 September 2022. This application is currently awaiting an assessment by a Departmental medical assessor. Once this assessment has been completed, a deciding officer will make a decision and the person concerned will be notified of the decision in writing.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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637. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a reply will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54285/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April. One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test.

The person concerned applied for Fuel allowance on 28 September 2022. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €667.72 which exceeded the permissible weekly means of €600.30 for the household. The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing on the 27 October 2022.

From January 2023, there will be a new means threshold for people aged 70 and over, of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.

The arrangements for applications under the new Fuel Allowance criteria will be announced later in the year.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.