Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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167. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on the carers review requested by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11969/23]

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.

I confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 2 September 2022.

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, who requires on-going care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) must be in payment in order for a care provider to be eligible for CA in respect of a care recipient under 16 years of age. As DCA was not in payment in respect of the care recipient, a Deciding Officer decided that the person concerned was not entitled to CA.

The person concerned was notified on 28 September 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of the right of review and appeal.

As DCA has now been awarded in respect of the care recipient, the person concerned requested a review of this decision on 5 December 2022. Following that request, a review of the application for CA commenced. A request for further information was issued to the person concerned on 20 December 2022. However, one of the items requested was omitted by the person concerned when making their submissions.

On 6 March 2023, correspondence requesting the above has re-issued and once the requested information has been received, the CA claim can be assessed.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11994/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 18 January 2023. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

The person concerned was contacted to supply additional supporting documentation to determine her eligibility for DA on 26 January 2023. A response was received on 03 February 2023.

A further information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 15 February 2023 to supply additional supporting documentation and I can confirm that the requested information was received on 27 February 2023.

Following a review of the application and additional documents, the application for the person concerned was then referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 06 March 2023 by a Deciding Officer (DO) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances.

Once the SWI has submitted their report, a decision will be made on the application as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.