Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2016
405. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications in Louth and east Meath for carer's allowance in the past six years; the number of those applications which have been unsuccessful; and the reasons given for turning down applications. [21207/16]
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.
A breakdown of applications from Louth and East Meath is not readily available. However, the following is a breakdown for all applications from 2010-2016.
|
Year |
Applications |
Disallowances (**) |
|
2010 |
18,212 |
7,860 |
|
2011 |
17,758 |
6,421 |
|
2012 |
15,493 |
8,603 |
|
2013 |
14,989 |
12,410 |
|
2014 |
17,759 |
8,688 |
|
2015 |
18,929 |
9,808 |
|
2016* |
9,130 |
4,005 |
*End June 2016
** These figures include applications which were disallowed but which may subsequently have been awarded either on a deciding officer review of additional evidence or following a successful appeal.
Again, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of specific disallowance reasons for cases that were disallowed. Applications may be refused for any one or a multiple of the following reasons:
|
Reasons for Disallowance |
|
The applicant’s means exceeding the statutory limit; |
|
The applicant not providing full-time care and attention; |
|
The care recipient not requiring full-time care and attention; |
|
The care recipient being under 16 years of age and Domiciliary Care Allowance not being in payment in respect of them; |
|
The applicant not being habitually resident in the State; |
|
The applicant failing to supply evidence, documents, information or certificates required for the purpose of deciding the claim; |
|
The applicant failing to co-operate with a social welfare investigation; |
CA is currently in payment to 65,258 carers. According to records available to my department, 1,957 of these carers reside in Co. Meath and 1,893 reside in Co. Louth.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
