Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

219. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether a person on certified sick leave will still meet the qualification criteria for carer’s benefit that they must have been employed or self-employed for at least eight weeks in the previous 26-weeks for a minimum of 16 hours each week or 32 hours a fortnight if they previously met this criteria before being on sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66403/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The main income supports to family carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is estimated at over €2.2 billion in 2026.

Carer's Benefit is available to people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. It is payable for a period of two years for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of two years.

A person may qualify for Carer’s Benefit if they meet the PRSI and other conditions of the scheme and have been engaged in full-time employment for at least eight weeks in the previous 26 weeks. Full-time employment in this context is defined as engaged insurable employment for at least 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight. This condition does not need to be satisfied on a second or subsequent claim where a person was in receipt of Carer's Benefit within the previous 26 weeks.

The legislation governing Carer’s Benefit outlines the circumstances by which a carer on leave from employment may satisfy the conditions of engagement in full-time employment as an employed contributor. Specifically, the condition is deemed to have been satisfied where the person was on adoptive leave, health and safety leave, maternity leave, parental leave, parent’s leave or paternity leave, having been engaged in remunerative full-time employment as an employed contributor for 8 weeks, whether consecutive or not, within the relevant period. Periods of statutory sick leave are not covered by these provisions.

Where a full-time carer is not eligible for Carer’s Benefit, they may apply for the means-tested Carer’s Allowance and the annual Carer’s Support Grant.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.