Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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463. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is satisfied that the correct decision was made in revoking carer’s allowance from person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9110/25]

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.

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 can confirm that the person concerned was in receipt of CA since 3 March 2016.

Once claims are in payment, my Department periodically reviews them to ensure continued entitlement. These reviews are conducted by Deciding Officers, who make decisions in a fair and impartial manner, in accordance with the legislative provisions of the relevant scheme.

A review of CA for the person concerned commenced on 17 January 2024.

The person concerned was requested to have a medical report completed by the care recipient's doctor.

Following the receipt of the completed medical report, it was referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor. The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer, 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 31 January 2025. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where new relevant information has become available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

A review was initiated on foot of correspondence received on 21 February 2025. When a decision is made on the review, the person concerned will be notified in writing,

A request to appeal this decision was lodged with the Department and forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 24 February 2025.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.