Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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386. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current number of disablement benefit recipients who also receive constant attendance allowance (CAA); the number of disablement benefit recipients that have a level of disablement assessed at 50% or above; the reason the number of recipients of CAA appears disproportionately low compared to the total number of disablement benefit recipients; if his Department is actively reviewing the criteria or processes to ensure eligible individuals are not being excluded from receiving CAA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67921/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Disablement Benefit is a compensatory payment for persons who have suffered a loss of faculty due to injury arising out of and in their insurable employment.

Constant attendance allowance is an increase to Disablement Benefit, If an individual requires daily care because of an accident at work or work-related illness. To qualify for constant attendance allowance, an applicant must be in receipt of Disablement Benefit of over 50%. A payment of €261 constant attendance allowance is paid directly to the person on Disablement Benefit. There are currently 14,331 persons in receipt of Disablement Benefit and 117 in receipt of constant attendance allowance.

An individual on Disablement Benefit may become a care recipient on Carers Allowance or Carers Benefit. Payment of Carers Allowance or Carers Benefit is paid directly to the carer. A person in receipt of constant attendance allowance must provide for their own care needs and cannot be a care recipient on either Carers Allowance or Carers Benefit.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.