Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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532. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carer’s allowance application will be expedited in respect of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14155/25]

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.

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.)

Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.

The person concerned is in receipt of CA since 21 April 2011 and the last means review for the person concerned was conducted on 8 February 2022.

On 31 January 2025, a CA review was initiated and an information request issued to the person concerned.

Following receipt of the requested information, the person concerned was informed that their current payment was under consideration owing to an increase in their means. The person concerned was notified of this in writing on 20 March 2025.

They have been offered the opportunity to furnish, within 10 days, any further information regarding the matter.

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.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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533. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of instances that the additional needs payment was used to cover the costs of car repairs in each county or social welfare district for each month since January 2020, in tabular form; the total cost for each county or district for each month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14168/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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534. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of claims under the additional needs payment for car repairs that were made in each 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the number therein that were awarded payment and the average payment made for this purpose in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14169/25]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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535. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if beneficiaries of temporary protection have had personal car repair works funded through any payment mechanism provided by his Department; if so, to provide details of costs and payment numbers from 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14178/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 to 535, inclusive, together.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.

The decision process involves consideration of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need. This entails an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Entitlement only arises where a person can demonstrate that the expenditure is essential and that they have no means of funding the expenditure themselves.

An Additional Needs Payment may be provided to assist with car repairs. In considering such an application, the assessment of the requirement would include investigation of the necessities for the use of the vehicle and whether alternative sources of transport are available to the person and their household, such as another family vehicle or public transport.

It is not possible to extract data solely related to Additional Needs Payments provided towards car repairs as this information is not recorded or collated.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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537. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of first-time applicants disallowed for the domiciliary carers allowance; the number of appeals on this decision; the number of domiciliary carers allowance awarded on appeal, the number awarded on second application, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14211/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age. The level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.

Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability or diagnosis, but primarily on the impact of the disability/diagnosis in terms of the associated care and attention required by the relevant child compared to a child of the same age without their disability.

The following tables set out the information requested. gThe information includes new applications received, awarded and disallowed, the number of Appeals received, allowed, partially allowed and revised decisions by a Deciding Officer. The Department does not collate the data for the number of applications awarded on second application.

** Figures are up to end of February 2025

In some cases for new applications, more than one decision may be made where an applicant provides further information/ documentary evidence and/or seeks a review of a decision, i.e. an application can be disallowed initially and then subsequently allowed on review. Applicants are advised to provide as much detail as possible at application stage, including any additional information and/or documentary evidence that is relevant, to ensure that all information is available to my Department for the decision and assessment process.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.