John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I am taking this topical issue on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, who conveys her apologies to the Deputies for not being here to respond in person.

The domiciliary care allowance, DCA, is a monthly payment to the parent or guardian of a child with a disability so severe that he or she requires care, attention and supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be provided to allow the child to deal with the requirements of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

The allowance is currently paid to over 24,000 parents and guardians in respect of 26,000 children at a cost of approximately €100 million in 2011, with the accompanying respite care grant costing a further €45 million. Parents in receipt of domiciliary care allowance also qualify for carer's allowance and household benefits, subject to fulfilling certain criteria, and some 40% of those on the scheme receive these payments. Those who receive the carer's allowance and household benefit package, in addition to domiciliary care allowance and respite care grant, each receive a total of almost €17,000 per annum from the Department.

The review of the domiciliary care allowance announced by the Minister in May is due to commence in early July. The working group to review the scheme will be chaired by Ms Sylvia Langford, retired director general in the former Office of the Minister for Children. The working group will include representatives from the Departments of Social Protection, Health, Children and Youth Affairs and Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as from the National Disability Authority. It will also include three representatives from key NGO organisations representing parents and guardians of children in receipt of the allowance along with other members with relevant expertise. The review will examine and report on the policy objectives and legal provisions underpinning the domiciliary care allowance scheme. It will review the current administrative, medical assessment and appeals processes underpinning the scheme, including an examination of the duration of review periods for the scheme based on the medical condition of the children involved and taking account of other priority demands on the medical resources of the Department.

The medical guidelines and the report of the expert medical group will be reviewed having regard to the three years operational experience since the scheme transferred to the Department. As part of the review, a consultation process with parents and representative groups will be undertaken to ensure parents and their representatives have an opportunity to make their concerns known in respect of the administration of the scheme. Reviews of individual claims are suspended while the review is ongoing. A report and recommendations emerging from the review are to be submitted by the end of December 2012.

In separate work, the availability of supports and services for children with disabilities will be mapped to see if there is an opportunity for greater linkage and consistency in the assessment for such support and services. This work will be led by officials in the Department, in conjunction with other relevant Departments and is expected to be completed in the autumn.

I am aware of the heroic efforts of parents to support their children and of the vital role played by the income supports paid by the Department in enabling people to live with dignity and to support their children. It remains my primary concern to ensure that parents of children who continue to meet the qualifying conditions continue to receive the allowance.

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