Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive domiciliary care allowance. [15797/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on 17 February 2011. 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 to the person concerned on 15 April 2011 advising her of the decision to refuse the allowance.

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 or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person concerned submitted further medical information and an appeal was registered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 16 May 2011. As part of the appeals process this additional information is currently being reviewed by a Medical Assessor.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views that the medical assessments supporting domiciliary care allowance should be the only criteria governing eligibility. [15799/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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.

The application process operated by the Department involves the submission of a detailed statement by the parent or guardian of the child; a detailed medical assessment by the child's general practitioner; and any other relevant evidence available from qualified experts who have examined the child. This evidence is then assessed by designated Departmental Medical Assessors who have received special training in the area of child disability.

In reviewing the medical evidence and written reports the Medical Assessor is required to make a determination as to whether the information contained in the application demonstrates that the child requires substantial continuous additional care and attention. In this regard the medical evidence and supporting documentation are key to assisting the Medical Assessor to determine if the child meets the scheme qualifying criteria.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if community welfare officers have ever given assistance for foreign holidays to families [15816/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Under the supplementary allowance scheme an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the HSE based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or HSE payment.

Assistance for foreign holidays would not be considered an essential need.