Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 232: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the medical criteria that applies where domiciliary care allowance is awarded; and the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused this allowance. [3508/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Eligible children from birth to the age of 16 who are living at home and 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 may qualify for DCA. The condition must be likely to last for at least one year.

Eligibility 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 a means test. While no condition is debarred, conditions such as Asthma, Diabetes or Epilepsy are not normally considered unless there is a very high degree of additional care and attention required.

As the administration of the allowance is a matter for the Health Service Executive my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.