John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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792. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance submitted in August 2024 will be approved as a matter of urgency (details supplied). [23371/25]

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 5 September 2024.

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 their claim.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 16 September 2024. The person concerned failed to provide all the information required to determine that their means did not exceed the statutory limit allowed for receipt of CA.

The claim was disallowed on two conditions. The DO, having regard to all the evidence, found that although a certain level of care was provided, the time involved was not considered to be full-time and the person concerned failed to supply all of the requested information.

The person concerned was notified of this decision on 9 January 2025. 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 from the person concerned on 23 January 2025.

The claim was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) to confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA were satisfied. The SWI has confirmed that the claim will be finalised in the coming days. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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793. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if domiciliary care allowance will be approved, as a matter of urgency, for a person (details supplied). [23431/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.