Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 417: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who are currently in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36642/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance a child must have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be given by another person, effectively full-time, so that the child can deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting lack of function of body or mind necessitating the degree of extra care and attention required. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking account of the evidence submitted.

Since the 1st April 2009 new claims for Domiciliary Care Allowance have been processed by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. In the period 1st April 2009 to 9th October 2009, a total of 2430 applications have been received in the required format, of which 1688 cases have been fully processed. Of the processed applications, 194 have a medical condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 28 of which have been deemed eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance.