Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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571. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason carers allowance or benefit cannot be awarded to a family member living in a different county to help towards the cost of private care being paid for an individual who needs 24-hour care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33883/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in the Programme for Government.

Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently over 100,000 people in receipt of this payment with expenditure in 2025 estimated to be over €1.24 billion.

Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested income support for people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who needs full time care and attention. The time spent providing care must not be less than 35 hours per week.

The provision of full-time care and attention requirement is moderated somewhat by allowing a carer to work or engage in education or training for up to 18.5 hour per week. During this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.

The full-time care and attention requirement is contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.

To provide full-time care, a carer does not have to live with the care recipient. However, a direct system of communication must exist between the carer's residence and that of the care recipient. This may be a telephone or alarm type system, in addition to full-time, in-person care of at least 35 hours per week, over 5 to 7 days.

In the case referenced by the Deputy, it is stated that the carer and person in need of care live in different counties. It is important to note that the county boundary is not an issue once the carer is in a position to satisfy the full-time care criteria.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.