Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
411. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12546/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
Where the care recipient is less than 16 years of age a domiciliary care allowance (DCA) must be in payment for them.
The person concerned applied for CA on 9 January 2015 in respect of care being provided for her 11 year old son. As DCA was not in payment for him, CA was disallowed on 15 April 2015. The person concerned appealed this decision and the appeal was disallowed on 19 October 2015.
The person concerned re-applied for CA on 8 February 2016 following a successful appeal against the refusal of her application for DCA.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
As the person concerned does not satisfy this condition in that she is working in excess of 15 hours per week, her application for CA must be refused. The person in question has indicated to CA section staff that she will reduce her hours if CA may be awarded and someone from that area will be in touch with her to discuss how this may be facilitated within the scope of the statutory conditions for award of CA.
The person concerned was notified on 7 May 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
