Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Burton, on a review of the domiciliary care allowance system. I ask for clarification on the role to be played by the NGO representatives. In the recent debate on this issue, speakers approved of the terms of reference for the review but stressed the importance of including parents' representatives. These are the people who have everyday experience of raising children with disabilities. The officials and the bureaucrats do not seem to understand the hidden problems that arise. This is borne out by the type of questions asked not only during the paper review but also subsequently in oral hearings.

In regard to the NGO representatives, who will they be, from what sectors will they be drawn and will they include parents of children who are in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance and have gone through the review process? Such parents could share their real life experiences of what is wrong with the process, as well as provide examples of the amazing achievement of living relatively normal lives despite the huge stresses faced on a daily basis by virtue of having children who are on the autistic spectrum or have Asperger syndrome or Tourette syndrome. When will the review commence, when will it end and how long will it take for the results to be announced?

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