Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

The Department is not in a position to report on specific constituencies. Records indicate that the number of Fuel Allowance recipients per Dublin City area are as outlined in the following table:

* Fuel Allowance recipients on Community Employment Schemes, Rural Social Schemes and TÚS are not included.

It should be noted that the number of Fuel Allowance recipients fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme, as their circumstances change.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

370. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of a carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45192/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 6 July 2023.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of the application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 1 August 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of their application.

Following this review, the decision remained unchanged.

The person concerned was notified on 1 September 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a further review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of their application.

Additional information in relation to the person’s review was requested by a deciding officer on 12 October 2023.

Once the information is received, the review 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.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

371. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45238/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living.

Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child. To qualify for DCA, it must be established that the level of care and attention required by the relevant child is substantially in excess of that normally required by children of a similar age and likely to be required for at least 12 months, as provided for in the governing legislation.

An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the person concerned on 20 December 2021.

A deciding officer disallowed their claim, as per decision dated 25 March 2022. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination also considered the supporting medical evidence that was provided by the person concerned.

The applicant requested a review of the above decision. Following a review of their application, including the further medical evidence that was provided in support of the review, a deciding officer decided that a revision of the original decision was not warranted as per review decision dated 31 May 2022.

A new application was received from this person in respect of the child concerned on 4 October 2022.

This application was disallowed by a deciding officer as per decision dated 7 December 2022, as it was considered that the child did not satisfy the conditions for DCA at that time, based on the information provided in their application, including the supporting medical evidence that was provided.

The person concerned subsequently provided further additional information for consideration.

Following a review of their application, including all evidence available at the time of the above decision dated 7 December 2022, including the above further additional information that was subsequently provided by the applicant, a deciding officer decided not to revise the above decision, as per review decision dated 4 January 2023.

A further new application was received from the applicant in respect of the child concerned, on 26 July 2023, including supporting documentary evidence.

This further application was disallowed as per decision dated 12 September 2023 as the information, including the supporting documentary evidence provided, did not indicate that the level of care and attention required by the child concerned is substantially in excess of that required by a child of the same age without their disability and likely to be required for at least 12 consecutive months, as provided for in the qualifying conditions for the scheme.

It should be noted that the deciding officer(s) also had regard to the professional opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor in the decision(s) process, a copy of which was issued to the person concerned for information, along with the decision notification dated 12 September 2023.

As advised in the decision notification dated 12 September 2023, it is open to the person concerned to request a review of this decision by a deciding officer and/or appeal the decision directly to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

372. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a disability allowance appeal (details supplied); the reason for the delay in an appeal decision being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45255/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on the 15th June 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.

These papers were received on 17th July 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 26th July 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.