Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carer's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11638/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.

To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.

An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on the 05 December 2022.

The application was disallowed on 13 January 2023 as the evidence provided stated that, although the person concerned was providing a certain level of care to the care recipient, the time involved was not considered to be full time as per Carer's Benefit legislation.

A review of this decision was requested on 24 January 2023 and, based on the further information received, the level of care provided was deemed to be full time. However, as the weekly hours of employment of the person concerned exceeded the maximum 18.5 hours per week, the application remained disallowed.

A second review of this decision was requested on 17 February 2023. The person concerned stated that they had reduced their hours of employment to 18 hours per week from 6 February 2023. On 22 February 2023, the Deciding Officer issued a form to the person concerned for completion by the employer in order to confirm the amended dates of the person's carer's leave.

Once the completed form is received, the application will be reviewed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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147. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11646/23]

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.

The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 17 February 2023. They were notified in writing on 4 March 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has had their free travel pass withdrawn. [11655/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned had an entitlement to a Free Travel Pass which was linked to their Disability Allowance payment. The entitlement of the person concerned to Disability Allowance ceased in February 2018 and they had commenced employment.

Under my Department's Make Work Pay initiative, the person concerned was entitled to retain their entitlement to Free Travel for a period of 5 years after taking up employment. This 5 year period has now ended and the person's Free Travel has accordingly been stopped.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.