John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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314. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied). [14797/25]

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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 13 June 2024.

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, having regard to the opinion of the MA, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full-time care.

The person concerned was notified of this decision on 10 July 2024. 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).

A review was initiated on foot of correspondence received on 16 July 2024. Following this review, the decision remained unchanged. The person was notified of this decision on 3 September 2024.

A request to appeal the decision was forwarded to the SWAO on 19 August 2024. The appeal was disallowed and the original decision was upheld. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 25 February 2025.

Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts. It will be at the discretion of the Appeals Officer to reopen the case.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office can be contacted by phoning 0818-747434 or 01-6732800 or by emailing swappeals@welfare.ie.

It is also open to the person concerned to reapply for CA by completing a new CR1 application form. An application form has been forwarded by post to the address of the person concerned. A return envelope has been included for convenience.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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315. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for invalidity pension in the name of a person (details supplied). [14838/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Invalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.

Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (class A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of an IP claim.

To date, there is no record of my Department receiving a claim for IP from the person concerned. Her eligibility for the payment can be determined on receipt of a completed application form.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.