John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No 1299 of the 29 September 2010, if he will arrange a review of this case in view of the further information provided by the parliamentary question; if he will now expedite the review and issue a response [36970/10]

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. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking account of the evidence submitted.

In the case in question an application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received on 4th February 2010. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance. A letter issued on 8 th March 2010 where the person concerned was advised of the decision to refuse the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. She was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14 th September 2010 that the appeal had been disallowed. The decision/appeal process for this application was completed in early September.

All the information supplied by the person concerned which was available at that time, was provided to the appeals officer before the appeal was considered in early September. If the person concerned has new or additional information it is open to her to re-apply at any time.