Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
415. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carer's allowance entitlement is affected by taking up the role of a census enumerator given it does not have prescribed hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56899/21]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
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 for a maximum 18.5 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.
According to the census website www.census.ie the role of an enumerator will require a minimum of 22 hours work per week.
Therefore a person taking on this role would not meet the above condition and would have no entitlement to carers allowance.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy
