Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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842. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of medical assessors assigned to examining applications for domiciliary care allowance and the number of medical assessors assigned to examine DCA appeals, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if separate medical assessors are assigned to both the application and appeals process. [28391/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) is the principal control and medical guidance mechanism for all illness, disability and carers' schemes administered by my Department. This includes the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) scheme.

As part of the decision-making process, applications for DCA are referred to an MRAS departmental Medical Assessor (MA) for their professional opinion. The deciding officer has regard to this MA opinion in the decision process.

For the purpose of assessing applications for DCA, including reviews and appeals, generally a range of 4-7 MAs are allocated on a full-time basis. Overall, there is a focus on new applications due to the substantially higher volume of MA referrals in this category. The above 4-7 MAs are also assigned to examine DCA appeals and reviews as required.

There is no distinction in MAs that are allocated to examine new DCA applications and those allocated to examine reviews and appeals. However, for review cases and particularly for appeal cases, an alternate medical assessor is assigned.

The above data in respect of each of the past ten years is not available.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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843. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of deciding officers in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and the number of appeals officers assigned to assessing both applications and appeals, respectively for domiciliary care allowance. [28392/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The processing of new applications for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a priority of my Department and is monitored on an ongoing basis with particular focus on processing times, to ensure a timely service to applicants.

For the purpose of DCA claim processing, there are currently 12 deciding officers assigned on a full-time basis to assessing new applications. There are 10 deciding officers assigned to DCA appeal activity including the processing of appeal related reviews and customer review requests.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) is the office of my Department responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social protection entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.

The SWAO has advised that there are currently 41 Appeals Officers who make decisions on all appeals relating to social protection schemes and entitlements. This includes DCA appeal cases.

The above data in respect of the past 10 years is not available.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.