Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are major financial implications in having a child with severe disabilities in a household. One person who contacted me recently about a completely unrelated matter mentioned this issue as an afterthought, perhaps because she did not think anything could be done about it and I do not whether it can. I told her that I would raise the matter at the first opportunity in the Dáil. I understand she has requested an oral hearing on her claim for a domiciliary care allowance payment. In cases in which judges have decided joint custody is best for the child, nobody receives the domiciliary care allowance because the child spends half of the week with one parent and the other half with the other. This issue should be considered because hardship is being caused hardship. The child spends three and ha half days per week with each parent, neither of whom receives anything. The Minister of State might see if the issue can be dealt with.

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