Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1165. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the case of a person (details supplied) regarding the working family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58210/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.

In order to qualify for WFP you must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with you. Under Social Welfare Legislation, a qualified child is defined as a child under 18 years of age or aged between 18 and 22 and in full-time day education.

A Working Family Payment application for the person concerned was received on 19 June 2025. From the information provided by both the customer and the Social Welfare Inspector, the person concerned did not meet the condition of having a qualified child and the claim was disallowed.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1166. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to urgently review a fuel allowance case and take into consideration the exceptional circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58268/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April. One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test.

It was decided on 3 September 2025 that the person concerned is not entitled to the allowance as their weekly means of €1,082.69 exceeds the income threshold of €1,048.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1167. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review an application for the carer's support grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58277/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department received an application for the 2023 Carer's Support Grant (CSG) from the person concerned on 30 November, 2023.

The governing legislation for the payment of the CSG provides that a carer must be providing full-time care to the care recipient for a continuous period of at least six months and this period must include the first Thursday in June. The person concerned stated in their application that they commenced caring on 03 July 2023 and therefore they did not meet the above eligibility criteria for the grant.

It is also a condition of CSG that the carer is not working, self-employed, or on a training or education course for more than 18.5 hours a week. The person concerned declared working hours of 40 hours per week.

As a result of the above, the application was disallowed, and a letter issued to the person concerned on 15 December 2023, informing them of the decision and of their right of review and appeal.

On 8 February 2024, the person concerned appealed the decision of the Deciding Officer to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the Deciding Officer and disallowed the appeal on 17 July 2024. The decision of the Appeals Office is final and conclusive and can only be overturned in light of new facts or fresh evidence.

There is no provision under the governing legislation of CSG for part payment of the grant.

I can confirm that my Department did not receive an application for 2024 CSG from the person concerned.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.