Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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309. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the working group that reviewed the DCA scheme; and the further changes she anticipates making to the scheme. [15370/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The review of the Domiciliary Care Allowance scheme (DCA), which was published in April 2013, makes a number of recommendations in relation to the operation of the scheme.

An implementation group, comprising officials from the Department of Social Protection, other relevant Departments/relevant bodies and parent/representative groups was established to action the administrative recommendations in the report. Some of these recommendations required changes to be made to the Department's IT systems. This work, along with work on the remaining administrative changes recommended has been completed. It is intended to have the administrative recommendations contained in the report implemented in April 2014.

The Department plans to recommence eligibility reviews during quarter 2 of 2014. Work on planning and scheduling reviews has been undertaken in conjunction with the implementation group and is well advanced at present.

The policy recommendations contained in the report are a matter for Government.