Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by families who are in receipt of domiciliary care allowance whereby when the payment lapses on the child's 16th birthday, the automatic entitlement to the carer's respite grant lapses with it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21013/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the rationale for limiting domiciliary care allowance to children up to the age of 16 years; and the estimated extra cost to the State of extending the age limit to 18 years. [21014/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

Domiciliary Care Allowance 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 Domiciliary Care Allowance. The current Domiciliary Care Allowance rate is €299.60 per month.

Entitlement to Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases on the child's 16th birthday. However, when the child is approaching the age of 16, the HSE advise the family to apply for the Disability Allowance, operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. I understand that the Health Service Executive notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child at least six months prior to the child's 16th birthday. Claimants must satisfy a means test and medical criteria. The personal Disability Allowance rate is €197.80 per week. While the automatic entitlement to respite care grant lapses with the Domiciliary Care Allowance, a respite care grant is available from the Department of Social and Family affairs, subject to the satisfaction of eligibility criteria.

There are no proposals to extend the age limit of the Domiciliary Care Allowance. My Department has asked the HSE, if it is possible, to estimate the cost of extending the age limit to 18 years of age net of those people who would switch to Disability Allowance and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children currently in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. [21015/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, 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.