David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the conditions ODD, ADHD, sensory integration dysfunction and dyspraxia or a combination of these conditions are considered by his Department as conditions which meet the medical criteria for a child to qualify for domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16823/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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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. As such it is not possible to say if a child with ODD, ADHD or any other intellectual disability will qualify for a payment under the scheme. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the case to be reviewed by a different Medical Assessor. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in view of a child satisfying the additional care criteria of the domiciliary care allowance scheme, the provision of a full-time special needs assistant for a child would be considered by his Department to illustrate the extra level of care required by a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16824/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The position of a full time special needs assistant for a child is a matter for the Department of Education and Science.