Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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414. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [50015/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is available to people aged 66 or over receiving a State Pension or other qualifying payments, and to people under 66 who are getting a long-term illness or disability payment. It is included weekly with the primary social welfare payment.

There were 241,450 people in receipt of a LAI in 2023, 241,450 in 2024 and 253,737 as of the end of August 2025. The LAI is included as part of the primary scheme and therefore it is not in generally subject to a separate control review. It is normally included during a control review of the primary scheme if it is in payment. Data on the number of scheme control reviews undertaken each year is available, however it is not possible to provide data on the number of schemes reviewed where a Living Alone Increase was in payment.

As part of its Compliance and Anti Fraud Strategy my department commits to an annual target for control reviews across all social welfare schemes. The objective is to ensure that customers continue to receive their correct rate of payment over the lifetime of their claim. In 2024, 684,864 reviews were undertaken across all scheme areas, these reviews would include an assessment of continuing entitlement to Living Alone Increase where applicable.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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415. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review a claim and medical reports for a person (details supplied) with a view to approving the application, given the person has been in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance for a long period of time and two GPs continue to deem the person unfit for work; if a general practitioner appointed by his Department will examine the applicant; and if not, if an oral hearing will be conducted. [50034/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for Disability Allowance on 15th March 2024. Their application was refused on 25th June 2024, on the grounds that the person in question did not satisfy the medical criteria for Disability Allowance.

The person concerned submitted an appeal of this decision. Having considered all of the available evidence, the Appeals Officer acknowledged the impact of the appellant's conditions on their daily life, however was not satisfied that the medical evidence established that the appellant is substantially restricted from undertaking suitable employment due to a disability which has or is likely to continue for 12 months.

The person concerned submitted a request for a review of the Appeals Officers decision under Section 317 on the 19th June 2025. The Appeals Officer having considered that review and the new evidence provided did not find that the original decision was incorrect, and the review was subsequently disallowed on 15th July 2025.

Any further review of the decision by the Appeals Officer may be requested, upon submission of new facts or new evidence which were not given to the Appeals Officer previously as part of the original decision or the section 317 review, and are relevant at the date the claim was made. The submission of new facts of new evidence, should made along with a completed copy of the SWAO2 form.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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416. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to consider awarding a half carer’s allowance payment to persons who are caring for family members in an almost full-time capacity to provide the care required for a person in between care hours approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50237/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government acknowledges the key role that family carers play in Irish society and remains committed to supporting them.

Carer's Allowance is the main income support scheme for family carers. Its primary aim is to support those whose earning ability is reduced due to full-time caring responsibilities. It is not and was never intended to be a payment for the provision of care. Like other means-tested welfare payments it recognises that without an income support the person concerned could not provide for themselves.

To qualify for Carer’s Allowance the carer must provide full-time care and attention and satisfy a means test. Full-time care and attention is set out in legislation as providing care for at least 35 hours per week, over a minimum of five days per week. In addition carers must not engage in employment, self-employment, training, or education for more than 18.5 hours per week.

The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance payment is available to individuals who provide full-time care and attention, as set out above, and are also receiving another qualifying social welfare payment, for example the State Pension.

Carer’s Allowance can be payable in situations where caring duties are shared with another person or with an institution, on a week on/week off basis. In such circumstances, each carer shares the Carer’s Allowance payment and the annual Carer’s Support Grant, provided the other qualifying conditions for both schemes are met.

While acknowledging that there are many people who provide significant amounts of care to family members, the key components of qualifying for a social welfare payment as set out above still apply.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.