Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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965. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for carers allowance and domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1494/24]

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 8 November 2023.

CA was awarded on 10 January 2024, with effect from 5 October 2023 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 18 January 2024.

Arrears for the period 5 October 2023 to 17 January 2024 will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified on 10 January 2024 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received from the person concerned in September 2023. This application was awarded from 1 October 2023.

Payments will issue to the nominated Post Office/ Bank on the third Tuesday of each month.

Arrears for October and November were credited to the nominated account along with the December payment on 19 December 2023.

The person concerned was notified on 13 December 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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966. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance application review (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1506/24]

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 can confirm that my Department originally received an application for DA from the person concerned on 24 August 2023. The person concerned application was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 9 August 2023 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances.

On 28 November 2023, following the return of the SWI report, the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the Deciding Officer in order to make a decision on their DA eligibility.

Based on the evidence supplied, their application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned failed to provide sufficient information to enable the Deciding Officer to determine their means assessment.

The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 8 December 2023, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.

The person concerned supplied further information on 14 December 2023.

Based on the additional evidence supplied, their application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned failed to provide sufficient information to enable the Deciding Officer to determine their means assessment.

The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 9 January 2023, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.