Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1005.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an urgent update on carer’s allowance review for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35543/24]

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.

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.

I confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 02 November 2023.

As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor (MA). The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer (DO), having regard to the opinion of the Medical Assessor, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 05 December 2023. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).

On 17 July 2024 a review was requested and further medical evidence was submitted to the Department. The application, along with the further medical evidence, was referred for the professional opinion of a Department MA. The DO, having regard to the opinion of the MA, decided that the additional information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care. The decision remained unchanged.

A request to appeal this decision was lodged with the Department and forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The file was sent to the SWAO on 20 August 2024.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.