Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank Senator O'Rourke for raising this matter on the Adjournment which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and for outlining the position in regard to the domiciliary care allowance.

The domiciliary care allowance is a monthly allowance administered by the Health Service Executive and may be paid in respect of eligible children from birth to the age of 16 who have a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention which is substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. The condition must be likely to last for at least one year. Where medical confirmation is supplied which pre-dates the actual date of application and the Health Service Executive's senior area medical officer is satisfied that the child required continual or continuous care and attention, substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age, then payment may be made from the date the senior area medical officer is satisfied that such additional care and attention was required.

Eligibility for domiciliary care allowance is determined primarily by reference to the degree of additional care and attention required by the child rather than to the type of disability involved, subject to the means test. It is a matter for the HSE medical officer in the relevant community care area to decide whether or not a child qualifies for domiciliary care allowance on medical grounds.

The current rate of payment for domiciliary care allowance which came into effect on 1 January 2007 is €281.30 per month.