Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, to also listen to this part of my question. Domiciliary care allowance is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 years with a severe disability who requires ongoing care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. It is not means tested. Why do some PKU patients receive domiciliary care allowance while others are refused? What are the evidence-based criteria used by the deciding officers? Why do some families have to go through the appeals process? As all PKU sufferers suffer the same condition with the same restraints and consequences, why is there not a blanket domiciliary care payment for all PKU sufferers from birth to 16 years?

Given the increased costs for PKU sufferers over 16 years, it is likely that having received domiciliary care allowance up to this age, they will be in receipt of disability allowance when they apply for it after the age of 16. Obviously, with growth comes increased appetite, which equals increased costs. What are the evidence-based criteria used by the deciding officers in cases of sufferers aged over 16?

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