Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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872. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of WTE departmental staff by grade that are currently dealing with carer's allowance applications. [28913/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The staffing needs for all areas within my Department are continuously reviewed. This is to take account of workloads, management priorities, and the ongoing need to respond to increasing demands in a wide range of services. The Department ensures that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on its schemes and services.

Carer’s Allowance is a statutory, means-tested payment which provides an income support for carers who look after people who are in need of full-time care and attention. The carer must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.

The table below lists the number of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staff by grade currently assigned to assessing new applications for Carer’s Allowance as well as claim maintenance, dealing with reviews and appeals, and correspondence activity for Carer’s Allowance. This group of staff also administers the Carer’s Support Grant.

Carer’s Allowance WTE by grade

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.