Vol. 500 No. 5
145 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been refused in view of the fact the person she is caring for is receiving constant care in her own home seven days a week and, in the absence of this care, would require hospitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4602/99]
One of the conditions for receipt of carer's allowance is that the claimant is providing full-time care and attention to the person being cared for. The person concerned first applied for a carer's allowance in May 1998. The resulting investigations indicated the she was employed by two related pensioners as a carer from Monday to Friday each week. On this basis the person concerned did not fulfil the statutory conditions of the scheme, and her claim was refused. She did not appeal this decision.
The person concerned submitted a second application for carer's allowance in December 1998. In view of the previous circumstances, her situation was re-investigated by a local inspector of the Department. It was decided on 9 February 1999 that she is not entitled to carer's allowance on the grounds that she is not providing care and attention fully each week for the pensioner concerned.
She has been notified of this decision by the Department, and has been sent a form to facilitate an appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office if she is dissatisfied with the decision.
