Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 889: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the criteria for granting domiciliary allowance for children with an intellectual disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39161/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance is payable in respect of children under 16 years of age who 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 considered by a Departmental Medical Assessor on an individual basis taking account of the evidence submitted.

In addition to the medical criteria for the scheme there are a number of other qualifying conditions relating to, the provision of care, the residency of the child and the residency of the person making the claim.

Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer they may seek to have the decision reviewed or they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.