Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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381. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which means and other tests for carer's allowance continue to be cognisant of the person’s physical/mental needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46736/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers Strategy.

Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested payment, made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

At all times, my Department is cognisant of the physical and mental needs of those who apply for and are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance. To learn about and keep abreast of the priorities of carers, my officials actively engage with carers’ representative groups on an ongoing basis and host an annual Carers’ Forum which is also attended by officials from the Department of Health, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the HSE, the National Transport Authority and other agencies with responsibilities for delivering other supports and services to carers. This forum provides carers with a valuable voice at policy level across a range of departments and agencies.

CA has several qualifying conditions, some of which can be complex. In considering applications for CA, evidence must be provided in respect of the care recipient’s medical condition, the care needs of the care recipient and the provision of care conditions by the carer, the carer's means, and habitual residency conditionality.

The CA application form (CR1) is designed and structured in accordance with the nature of the scheme and the qualifying criteria for the allowance for the purpose of capturing all relevant information. My Department regularly reviews scheme application forms, including the CA application form, to ensure that it is user friendly for the applicant, while also taking account of the nature of the scheme and its qualifying criteria. In 2022, my Department updated and shortened the CR1 application form, working together with Family Carers Ireland on the structure and contents of the form.

Where medical evidence establishes a serious medical condition and / or a grave prognosis, a fast-track return communications system is in place between my officials in CA Section and my Department's Medical Assessors in order to expedite the processing of such claims.

I announced several measures in Budget 2024 that will benefit carers. These include:

• €400 cost of living lump sum payment which will be paid in November.
• From January 2024, there will be a €12 increase in the maximum rate of the Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced weekly rate.
• From January 2024, there will be a €10 increase to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment.
• Weekly rates of qualified child payments will increase by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over, and €46 for under 12s.
• €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child.
• Christmas Bonus double payment to be paid in December.
• January cost of living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment, to be paid in 2024.