Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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260. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will expedite an application for carer's allowance on behalf of a person (details supplied). [20763/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carers 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 Carers Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 2 August 2022.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer on 3 August 2022.

As the person concerned failed to supply the information requested, the claim was disallowed and the person concerned was notified on 23 January 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of the right of review and appeal.

Following a review of the decision above, Carers Allowance (CA) was awarded to the person concerned on 28 April 2023, with effect from 26 May 2022 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 11 May 2023.

Arrears for the period 26 May 2022 to 10 May 2023 will issue shortly.

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

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is being asked to repay a welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20854/23]

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.

According to the Department’s records, the person concerned was out of the State for the periods from 8 March 2019 to 2 June 2019, 8 June 2019 to 10 October 2019 and 17 December 2019 to 26 December 2019.

It was decided that they had no entitlement to DA for the periods from 27 March 2019 to 4 June 2019, 12 June 2019 to 15 October 2019 and 18 December 2019 to 31 December 2019 as the person in question, was out of the State. An overpayment of DA was assessed against this individual for these periods.

They were notified in writing of this decision and of their right to request a review and/or to appeal the decision on 23 January 2020. The person concerned has been repaying this debt through weekly deductions from his Disability Allowance payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.