Social Welfare Benefits

Monday, 9 September 2024

Ceisteanna (960)

Marc MacSharry

Ceist:

960. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of separate applications received for the carer's support grant in 2022 and 2023, by county; the number of applications that were referred for a home visit by a social welfare inspector for both years, by county; the number of applications awarded in both years, by county [34513/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) is paid to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment but who are providing full time care and attention to a person may also be eligible and can apply for the grant as a stand-alone payment. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the period of full-time care and attention must last for at least six months. For the purpose of approving this grant, this period of care must include the first Thursday in June.

Where an application is referred to a Social Welfare Inspector, that inspector will use his or her judgement as to whether an interview is required in order to establish eligibility. If an interview is required, the inspector will use his or her judgement in relation to the most appropriate location for that interview. Information on the number of home visits carried out by Social Welfare Inspectors is not collated by the Department. Where appropriate, details of the home visits by Social Welfare Inspectors may be included in individual case reports. Statistical information is not available from this source.

In addition to applications received, the stand-alone CSG is also paid to recipients of CSG who were awarded in the previous year, provided they continue to meet the qualifying conditions in the relevant year. Currently these recipients do not need to submit an application form every year.

Please find below the numbers of stand-alone CSG applications received, the numbers of stand-alone CSG applications awarded, the numbers of stand-alone CSG applications referred to Social Welfare Inspectors (including home visits), and the overall total of stand-alone CSG’s awarded for the years 2022 and 2023 per county.

2022	Number of CSG applications received	Number of CSG applications referred to SWI (may include home visits)	Number of CSG applications awarded	Total number of CSG payments made
CARLOW	81	2	66	105
CAVAN	91	12	75	152
CLARE	153	14	117	301
CORK	659	54	536	884
DONEGAL	167	23	115	365
DUBLIN	1,219	74	891	1,952
GALWAY	358	18	275	616
KERRY	220	22	178	453
KILDARE	224	10	166	388
KILKENNY	84	3	66	165
LAOIS	116	5	83	194
LEITRIM	57	6	36	84
LIMERICK	266	16	205	532
LONGFORD	51	5	35	97
LOUTH	127	12	95	274
MAYO	151	14	120	321
MEATH	177	13	139	347
MONAGHAN	66	12	49	99
OFFALY	85	2	59	142
ROSCOMMON	104	11	79	212
SLIGO	106	9	86	204
TIPPERARY	223	14	176	365
WATERFORD	149	15	107	219
WESTMEATH	115	8	75	201
WEXFORD	194	18	155	376
WICKLOW	137	12	110	285
Other (outside ROI)	4	0	0	0
Total	5,384	404	4,094	9,333

2023	Total number of CSG applications received	Total number of CSG applications referred to SWI (including home visits)	Total number of CSG applications received in 2023 that were awarded by county	Total number of CSG applications awarded
CARLOW	78	4	49	101
CAVAN	96	8	73	142
CLARE	157	11	116	295
CORK	648	57	488	879
DONEGAL	167	21	117	272
DUBLIN	1,062	77	792	1,794
GALWAY	330	21	233	516
KERRY	189	18	131	383
KILDARE	196	16	148	372
KILKENNY	102	5	71	140
LAOIS	113	4	82	164
LEITRIM	54	7	33	70
LIMERICK	276	14	198	474
LONGFORD	76	7	55	80
LOUTH	132	4	97	239
MAYO	178	11	127	269
MEATH	189	12	147	307
MONAGHAN	55	10	35	86
OFFALY	93	4	68	106
ROSCOMMON	96	12	79	189
SLIGO	110	10	80	185
TIPPERARY	196	16	147	324
WATERFORD	145	12	92	181
WESTMEATH	118	7	80	172
WEXFORD	172	13	123	325
WICKLOW	152	14	121	255
Other (outside ROI)	2	0	0	0
Total	5,182	395	3,782	8,320

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.