Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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571. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of carer’s allowance; the extent to which the numbers have fluctuated in the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26552/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer'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 results in them requiring that level of care.

I can advise the Deputy that at the end of April 2021 there were 89,549 customers in receipt of Carer's Allowance, an increase of 27% from 70,459 customers in receipt of Carer's Allowance in 2016.

I have attached a breakdown of the number of customers in receipt of Carer's Allowance in the past five years in tabular form and the percentage increase per year.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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572. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which the processing of applications for widow's and widower's State pensions are up to date at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26553/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers.  This includes ensuring that accurate decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Processing targets for my Department are set out each year in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for the Public Service and are kept under review. 

At present, the target for all widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pensions applications is to have 90% of claims processed within six weeks.

My Department is currently processing 95% of all widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pensions applications  within one week of their having been received.However, some applications may take longer as further documents such as necessary certificates  or social insurance records are required to allow a  decision to be made.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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573. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when it is expected that oral hearings in respect of social welfare appeals cases are likely to recommence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26554/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

When an appeal is assigned to an Appeals Officer, the Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if determined as necessary, hold an oral hearing.

Oral hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone and these types of hearings will continue. Due to the public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person hearings were suspended in March 2020 and have remained suspended since then with the exception of a small number of weeks in August and September 2020. The matter of the resumption of in-person hearings is being kept under review. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.