Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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486.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on an application for carer’s allowance (details supplied); when the application will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25433/24]

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 as a result they require that level of care. This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision, and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

An application for CA was received in respect of the care of the person concerned on 02 April 2024.

Additional information on the case was requested on 09 April 2024 and this was submitted on 02 May 2024.

The application in respect of the care of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the medical evidence submitted did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The decision letter issued on 07 June 2024 and this letter advised of the reasons for the decision and of the right to review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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487.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on a State pension (contributory) application by a person (details supplied), as the person would like their contributions reviewed as they would get more on a State pension (non-contributory) pension. [25434/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned turned 66 on 10 October 2016.

The state pension (contributory) was awarded from their 66th birthday at the currently weekly rate of €249.30 which is equivalent to 90% of the maximum rate. This is based on 1,299 credits and reckonable contributions from 1968 to 2016 giving a yearly average of 32 contributions per year.

The person concerned has been awarded homemaking periods from 06/04/1994 to 30/06/1997 and 01/07/1997 to 23/04/2000 which have been included in the calculation..

The person concerned was also awarded long term carers contributions from 01/07/1997 to 23/04/2000 and 01/07/2000 to 23/05/2004. Contributions awarded under the long-term carers contribution scheme, requires at least 1,040 weeks (20 years) of caring before these contributions become reckonable for State Pension (contributory).

The person's pension entitlement was reviewed again on 15 May 2024, there was no change to the rate of pension awarded. A review outcome letter issued to the person concerned along with a copy of the their contribution record.

On 23 May 2024, the person concerned queried the caring credits awarded under the pension caring supports schemes. Following a review, no additional credits or contributions were awarded. I have arranged for a pension caring support application form to issue. If the person concerned has additional caring periods not already applied for, they should complete the information in the form provided and return it to my department.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.