Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58620/22]

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 10 November 2022.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 18 November 2022.

Once the requested information is received, the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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259. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that those with disabilities partaking in the National Learning Network are being excluded from receiving the disability allowance. [58622/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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People on training courses, having previously been in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, will receive the €500 Disability Support Grant.

My Department has, as you will be aware, acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought forward and implemented within a period of weeks. While this early issue of payments was very challenging it was possible to achieve for people paid directly off the Department’s own payment systems.

However, when undertaking training courses, recipients of Disability Allowance move off the Department’s payment systems and transfer to a Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funded Training Allowance. As a consequence, it was not possible to process early payment of the Disability Support Grant to these recipients in the same manner as was implemented in respect of people paid directly through the Department’s own systems.

My officials are examining this issue in conjunction with their colleagues in the Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the payment is made to those who are on Training courses as soon as possible.