Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the value of and the basis of assessment for domiciliary care allowance and associated respite grant; and if conditions apply restricting the right of parents to work outside the home. [33204/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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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. The current Domiciliary Care Allowance rate is €299.60 per month.

Eligible persons for the Respite Care Grant payable by the HSE, are those who are receiving Domiciliary Care Allowance on the first Thursday in June each year or those who subsequently qualify for DCA and who are paid DCA retrospectively for the period covering the first Thursday in June of the relevant year. Payment of the grant is automatic, application is not required. The Respite Care Grant is not payable in respect of DCA pro-rata recipients unless the child has spent at least six months, in total, of the previous 12 month period at home with his or her family. The current value of the Respite Care Grant per annum is €1,700 for one child and €3,400 for two or more children.

The administration of the Domiciliary Care Allowance and the associated Respite Grant falls within 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 provide further clarification directly to the Deputy on the issues raised.