Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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364. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the special needs school transport grant is counted as means or income for carers allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41006/23]

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.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse / civil partner / cohabitant, including property (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income (for example, occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country).

I can confirm that any payments from the Special Transport Grant made by the Minister for Education under the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs are excluded from the CA means assessment.

Further information in relation the CA means assessment can be found on the Department website under the Operational Guidelines Means Assessment www.gov.ie/en/publication/11f23e-means-assessment-guidelines/

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.