Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to address the means review of carer’s allowance (details supplied) as this family had a full review only a short time ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5305/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement. In this case the means of the person concerned are being reviewed.

The last means review for the person concerned was on 08 February 2022.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, 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.

An information request pertaining to the review issued to the person concerned on 31 January 2025.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding the claim and attends at such office or place as an officer may direct.

To date the person concerned has not furnished these documents.

Upon receipt of the information requested and following the necessary investigations in relation to all aspects of the review, the person concerned will be notified directly in writing of the outcome.

My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers.

At all times, repeated requests for information are minimised and every effort is made to conduct and complete reviews as quickly as possible so as to avoid causing any undue stress to the customer.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.